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English Presbyterian Church. 

market square. 
Erected 1858-59. 



1794 1894, 



CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL 

ENGLISH 
Presbyterian Congregation, 



HAEEISBUEG, PA. 



Geo. B. Stewart, Editor. 



HARRISBURG, PA.: 
Harrisburg Publishing Co. 
1894. 



PEEFATOEY. 



Pursuant to a resolution of the Centennial Committee, 
the following account of the Centennial services is given 
to the public. The work of editing, entrusted to Rev. 
Dr. George B. Stewart, has been done with conscientious 
fidelity to fact, and in a manner as gratifying to the com- 
mittee as it will no doubt be to the Congregation. 

M. W. McAlarney, Chairman. 
E. J. Stackpole, 
Charles H. Bergner, 
Samuel C. Miller, 
Henry C. Spicer. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



INTRODUCTION. 

Preliminary Work, 1 

Decorations and Historical Exhibit 11 

Centennial Committee, 15 

Centennial Choir, 17 

Order of Services, 18 

Programme of Organ Recitals, 27 

CENTENNIAL WEEK. 

Sunday Morning, 33 

Beginning- of Presbyterianism in the Middle Colonies, ... 37 

Sunday Evening, 63 

Mr. George E. Sterry's Address, 67 

Rev. Dr. Robinson's Address, 76 

The Pastor's Address, 80 

Monday Evening, 85 

Communion Address, 87 

Tuesday Evening, 93 

Hymnology of the Mother Presbyterian Church, 97 

The Musical Festival, 107 

Some Additional Reminiscences, 112 

Wednesday Evening, 125 

Address by Rev. Albert B. Williamson, 127 

Address by Rev. Geo. B. Stewart, 132 

Address by Jacob F. Seiler, Ph. D., 148 

Address by Mr. Cassius M. Brown, 159 

Address by Mr. Samuel H. Garland 167 

Address by Rev. Geo. S. Duncan, . . • 176 

Address by Rev. William P. Patterson, 180 

Thursday Evening 189 

"A Century Plant," . . , 192 

Friday Evening, 275 

Remarks by Dr. William C. Cattell, 279 

Remarks by Major-General George R. Snowden, 286 

Remarks by Col. J. Ross Thompson, 290 

Remarks by Rev. Henry E. Niles, D. D., 295 

Remarks by Mr. W. Franklin Rutherford, 300 



vi Contents. 

Centennial Greetings, 304 

God's sure covenant, 304 

Resolutions adopted by Elder Street Church, 307 

Letter from Judge Joseph Allison, 309 

Letter from Mr. D. C. Buchanan, 310 

Letter from Rev. Joseph R. Vance, D. D., 314 

Letter from Mrs. Mary M. Mc Arthur, 315 

Letter from Rev. Samuel G. Niccolls, D. D., 316 

Letter from Rev. Robert F. McClean, 316 

Our Second Century, 319 

Characteristics of a True Pastor and a True Church, .... 320 

The Duty of our Second Century, 336 

APPENDIX. 

A Century of Pastors, 355-368 

A Century of Elders, 373-399 

The Charter of the Corporation, 401 

Action of the Congregation in 1838, 406 

Forms in use during Dr. De Witt's Pastorate, 412 

Pastors, 416 

Elders, 416 

Deacons, .... 417 

Trustees, 417 

Church Choir, 419 

Roll of Communicants, 420 

Officers, 428 

Members Received, 429 

Presbyterian Colors, 430 

Rev. John Roan's School, 430 



INTRODUCTION. 



CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL. 



PRELIMINARY WORK. 



A century of history must be insignificant indeed if it 
is not worth recording. A church whose history stretches 
over a century ought to have a story to tell. Especially 
if the century has been lived in these last days when 
every year is crowded with great events, and life is full 
of intense activity. Hence it was that on September 
14th, 1891, the Session of the English Presbyterian Con- 
gregation of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, commonly known 
as the Market Square Church, resolved to celebrate in a 
fitting manner the Centennial anniversary of the founding 
of their church, February 16th, 1794. As a first step in the 
execution of this purpose they invited Rev. Thomas H. 
Robinson, D. D., Reunion Professor of Sacred Rhetoric, 
Church Government, and Pastoral Theology in the Western 
Theological Seminary of Allegheny, Pennsylvania, to de- 
liver a historical address on that occasion. This choice 
was eminently wise, since Dr. Robinson's long connection 
with this church as its fourth pastor, and his fondness for 
historical study, had given him much familiarity with the 
church and the community. Though the selection was 
made at an early date, it allowed none too long a time for 
the performance of the onerous task laid upon him. 



2 



Centennial Memorial. 



Several months later, on May 1st, 1893, the Session re- 
solved to call a meeting of the three official boards of the 
church for the purpose of further considering the proper 
celebration of the Centennial. This meeting was held in 
the parlor of the church on May 15th, 1893. There were 
present: George B. Stewart, Minister; Jacob A. Miller, J. 
Henry Spicer, John C. Harvey, Elders; Robert H. Moffitt, 
M. Wilson McAlarney, Trustees; Jacob J. Franck, David 
Fleming, Luther R. Kelker, Samuel C. Miller, Melancthon 
S. Shotwell, Peter K. Sprenkel, Deacons. The pastor was 
made Chairman of the meeting, and Dr. Jacob A. Miller, 
Clerk. After a full discussion of the subject, it was resolved 
to endorse the action of the Session, and to celebrate the 
Centennial anniversary of the founding of the church by 
appropriate exercises during the week beginning February 
11th, 1894. It was further decided that there should be a 
Centennial Committee, together with various sub-commit- 
tees, for the purpose of making the necessary arrangements 
for this celebration, the Chairmen of the sub-committees, 
together with the general Chairman, to constitute the Cen- 
tennial Committee. The Pastor, Rev. George B. Stewart, 
D. D., was chosen General Chairman. The meeting then 
adjourned to the evening of May 29th, 1893, for the further 
consideration of the arrangements. 

On May 29th, 1893, the second meeting of the officers was 
held pursuant to adjournment. The following were present : 

George B. Stewart, Minister ; Jacob A. Miller, J. Henry 
Spicer, John C. Harvey, Elders; M. Wilson McAlarney, 
Trustee ; Charles W. Foster, Luther R. Kelker, Samuel C. 
Miller, Melancthon S. Shotwell, Peter K. Sprenkel, Deacons. 



Introduction. 



3 



The following sub-committees and their chairmen were 
appointed : 

Invitation Committee — Charles L. Bailey, Chairman. 
Programme Committee — Samuel J. M. McCarrell, Chairman. 
Entertainment Committee — Gilbert M. McCauley, Chairman. 
Publication Committee — M. Wilson McAlarney, Chairman. 
Finance Committee — Samuel W. Fleming, Chairman. 
Decoration Committee — Mrs. Isabella S. Kerr, Chairman. 
Eeception Committee — Mrs. Gilbert M. McCauley, Chairman. 
Music Committee — George R. Fleming, Chairman. 
Ushers — Peter K. Sprenkel, Chairman. 

The names of the several committees indicate their re- 
spective duties. The Programme Committee was to arrange 
a proper programme of events for the celebration, and to 
have charge of its execution. The Invitation Committee to 
have charge of extending invitations in the name of the 
congregation to its friends. The Entertainment Committee 
to arrange for the suitable exercise of hospitality by the 
members of the congregation toward its guests. The Decor- 
ation Committee to have charge of the preparation and the 
decoration of the church. The Music Committee to direct 
the musical features of the celebration. The Reception 
Committee to have charge of a social reception. The Ushers 
to serve in that capacity during the week. The Publication 
Committee to arrange for such publications as might be 
found desirable in commemoration of the occasion. The 
Finance Committee to provide means for defraying the ex- 
penses. Of all these committees the General Chairman was 
a member ex-officio, and all committees were to act under 
the supervision of the Centennial Committee. The scheme 



4 



Centennial Memorial. 



combined the advantages of a single responsible head with 
the advantages of adequate specialization. The Centennial 
Committee, through its Chairman and several members, was 
in close touch both for information and for direction with 
all the sub-committees, while the sub-committees each had 
their definite and well understood duties. 

The Pastor was requested to inform the congregation on 
the following Wednesday evening, May 31st, of the action of 
their officers, and invite their co-opeiation in making the 
celebration worthy of the occasion.. After authorizing the 
Centennial Committee to fill up the sub-committees, the 
further arrangements were entrusted to the committees, and 
the joint meeting of the officers adjourned. 

On the following Wednesday evening, the Pastor, as re- 
quested by the officers, addressed the congregation on the 
subject, and there was cordial and universal approval of the 
action of the officers in planning for the fitting observance 
of the first centennial of the church. 

On September 22d, 1893, the first meeting of the Centen- 
nial Committee was held in the parlor of the church. Mr. 
Peter K. Sprenkel was chosen secretary of the committee. 
This date was the beginning of the active work of the com- 
mittees. From this time until the celebration was com- 
pleted they were busy planning and executing the various 
details incident to such an undertaking. 

Too much praise cannot be bestowed upon these commit- 
tees. They worked with great diligence, with unceasing 
fidelity, with imperturbable good nature, and with discrim- 
inating judgment. The perfection of the arrangements even 
to the minutest detail, the entire absence of friction, and the 



Introduction. 



5 



complete success of the whole celebration gave abundant 
evidence of their ability and faithfulness. 

The work of the committees almost from the first was deter- 
mined by certain leading ideas, and aimed at certain definite 
results. While this was to be the Centennial of the English 
Presbyterian Congregation, the mother of Presbyterianism in 
Harrisburg, nevertheless, our wish was to have all the Pres- 
byterian churches of the city enjoy with us the pleasure of 
the occasion. This thought was kept prominently before the 
committees, shaped many features of the programme, and 
prompted the Union Communion Service. The pastors 
and all the officers of the Presbyterian churches and their 
families were personally invited, and a formal invitation to 
all of the Events was extended through their church Ses- 
sions to the several congregations. 

As the church has always given a prominent place to 
music in its services, and has been favorably known for the 
high character and attractiveness of its music throughout 
all of its history, it seemed eminently appropriate that 
special prominence should be given to music during the cel- 
ebration. This led the Music Committee to plan a musical 
festival of a high order, and to arrange for exceptional mus- 
ical features in the other services. A large Centennial Choir 
was organized, composed of our own and singers from the 
Pine Street Presbyterian choir, with Mr. George R. Fleming 
as director, and Mr. David E. Crozier as organist. This 
choir, by its skillful rendering of beautiful music contributed 
in a large degree to the delightfulness of the occasion. 

The history of the church was naturally the principal 
theme of the occasion. It was fitting that a whole evening 



6 



Centennial Memorial. 



should be set apart for it. Nevertheless there was associate 
history which must receive attention that the celebration 
might be complete. Therefore, the occasion was appro- 
priately inaugurated by an address on " The Beginnings of 
Presbyterianism in the Middle Colonies," by the Rev. John 
DeWitt, D. D., LL. D., Professor of Church History in 
Princeton Theological Seminary, and the eminent son of the 
Rev. William R. DeWitt, D. D., who for fifty years was pas- 
tor of the church. . And an evening was devoted to the past 
history and present condition of the several Presbyterian 
churches whose life is directly connected with this church, 
and to the present condition of this church. 

That the congregation might have the pleasure of renew- 
ing acquaintance with former members and friends in 
attendance upon the celebration, and that delightful fellow- 
ship might characterize the occasion, an evening was set 
apart to social festivities. 

As the church has a history already written and preserv- 
ed in monuments of the past, it was arranged to have an 
historical exhibition of church relics, pictures, books, mu- 
sical instruments, diagrams of pews, and memorabilia of 
pastors and officers. This exhibition was displayed in the 
church parlor, and was an attractive feature of the celebra- 
tion. It is probably not saying too much to record that the 
plan proved to be a most symmetrical and harmonious 
blending of varied and necessary features of such an occa- 
sion. 

By beginning the celebration on Sunday, February 11th, 
and concluding it on Friday, February 16th, the two dates 
especially connected with the organization of the church 



Introduction. 



7 



were commemorated. For it was on Tuesday, February 
11th, 1794, that the first Bench of Elders in the congrega- 
tion was elected, and on Sunday, February 16th, 1794, that 
they were ordained to their sacred office. 

Invitations were sent in the name of the congregation to 
members of the church not residing in the city, to former 
members so far as their address could be ascertained, to 
descendants of former Pastors and officers, to members 
of the Presbytery of Carlisle, the officers of the Synod 
of Pennsylvania and or the General Assembly, to former 
Pastors of the other Presbyterian churches in the city and 
other Presbyterian ministers having had some relation with 
this church, the editors of the Presbyterian religious jour- 
nals, to the Pastors and officers of the city Presbyterian 
churches, to all the clergymen of the city, without distinc- 
tion of creed or race. It was the intention of the congrega- 
tion to celebrate the occasion on the broadest lines of 
catholicity, and their desire to have all their friends enjoy 
with them the pleasures of the celebration. 

The Committee on Programme prepared a full descriptive 
programme and had it printed as an elegant souvenir. 

Centennial week arrived. Everything was in readiness. 
The decorations of auditorium, lecture-room, and parlor, 
under the skillful guidance of the committee in charge were 
harmonious, appropriate, complete. The ushers were organ- 
ized for their onerous duty of caring for the comfort of the 
large audiences anticipated. Nothing remained to be done. 
There were no last things to be thought of and no hurried 
final arrangements. 

On the morning of Sunday, February 11th, the sun 



s 



Centennial Memorial. 



shone forth beautifully upon the crisp and not severely cold 
air. Eve^thing to be desired in the weather was found. 
The day remained perfect to its close. It was a most 
auspicious beginning. Joy seemed to be in the very atmos- 
phere, and friend remarked to friend as they met on the 
way to the house of God : " We could not have had a more 
beautiful day." That this weather should continue through- 
out the whole of the second week of this winter month was 
not to be expected. It was not surprising, therefore, that 
Monday brought with it a violent snowstorm. The storm 
raged throughout the day and night, and with longer or 
shorter intervals continued through Thursday of the week. 
On Friday the heavens were bright and the sun was warm. 
With the exception of Monday evening when the storm 
was especially violent, the size of the audiences was not 
affected by the weather. Though many would have attend- 
ed the services had the weather been more propitious, yet 
with the single exception mentioned, more could hardly 
have been accommodated. The church was on some even- 
ings crowded, and many were turned away. 

The programme was carried out as printed with only some 
slight modifications made necessary at the last moment. The 
sole important change in the programme of the week was 
due to the sudden illness of Hon. Samuel J. M. McCarrell, 
who was to have presented at the Wednesday evening 
meeting the paper setting forth the present condition of 
this church. In the emergency the Pastor took his place 
both in the preparation of the paper and in presenting it. 

On each morning during the Centennial Week, from 11 
to 12 o'clock, Mr. David E. Crozier gave an informal organ 



Introduction. 



9 



recital. These recitals comprised selections from the best 
composers for the organ, chiefly those of the German and 
French schools. Every day except Monday, when the 
weather was especially inclement, the audience was large 
and its interest in the recitals manifested by close attention 
and numerous requests for favorite pieces. These recitals 
were a most delightful feature of the celebration. 

The historical exhibition in the parlor attracted large 
numbers of visitors, who received valuable object lessons 
in church history in general, and the history of the Market 
Square church in particular, from the curios and relics 
displayed. 

From Sunday morning until Friday night this centenary 
celebration was a season of unbroken joy. It was in all 
its features a brilliant success. Throughout there was a deep 
and true sense of gratitude to the risen and adorable Lord, 
the Head of the Church, for his multiplied goodness and 
grace toward this congregation during all its history and in 
the present moment. It was pre-eminently an occasion for 
rejoicing before the Lord. All the people praised him in 
his sanctuary for his mighty acts according to his excellent 
greatness. " This honor have all his saints." 

This story of the Centennial would not be complete with- 
out mention of the most delightful closing of the work of 
the Centennial Committee. On Wednesday afternoon, Feb- 
ruary 28th, at 4 o'clock, the committee met at Mrs. Isabella 
S. Kerr's in final session. There were present Mrs. Kerr, 
Mrs. McCauley, Messrs. Stewart, Bailey, McAlarney, Mc- 
Cauley, Samuel W. Fleming, George R. Fleming and 
Sprenkel. Mr. McCarrell was the only member of the com- 



10 



Centennial Memorial. 



mittee not present, being at Atlantic City for a season of 
rest. Reports of the work of the several sub-committees 
were made by their respective chairmen. These reports 
were all approved, the committees commended, and expenses 
ordered paid by the Finance Committee. This committee 
reported that voluntary contributions had been made by the 
congregation to an amount sufficient to meet all the ex- 
penses incurred. The committee then " adjourned without 
day." 

After adjournment, together with Mrs. George B. Stewart, 
Miss Rachel T. Briggs, Miss Mary W. Kerr, Rev. David M. 
Skilling and Mr. David E. Crozier, especially invited, the 
committee sat down as the guests of Mrs. Kerr to an elegant 
supper. It was a most enjoyable hour and a delightful and 
fitting conclusion to the arduous but pleasant work of the 
committee. 

The Centennial is a thing of the past, but the memory of 
it will linger in the mind of every one participating in it as 
a precious treasure never to be lost. The monument is 
reared. The praises of a grateful people for the goodness of 
God are inscribed thereon. Whatever He may have seen in 
it or us that was unworthy may He forgive. To glorify 
Him in the earth and hasten His kingdom was the purpose 
of it all. May He be pleased to accept the purpose as an 
ample mantle wherewith to cover the imperfections in its 
execution. " Hitherto hath the Lord helped us." 

" This shall be known when we are dead, 

And left on long record, 
That ages yet unborn may read, 

And trust, and praise the Lord." 



DECORATIONS AND HISTORICAL EXHIBIT. 



The ornate auditorium of the church was greatly beauti- 
fied by the tasteful and appropriate decorations made for 
the occasion, under the direction of the Decoration Com- 
mitte. The central feature was the pulpit. From the 
Corinthian capitals of the columns there hung in graceful 
lines smilax and asparagus fern. On the two side columns 
were suspended blue banners, on which in gilt letters were 
inscribed " Jesus Christ and Him Crucified," and " Jesus 
Christ, the Chief Corner-stone." The arch which spans 
the pulpit recess was draped with blue and red bunting' 
which furnished a background for the bright lettering 
of the two mottoes, " Vox Clamantis in Deserto " and 
" Philadelphia Maneto," meaning respectively, " The Voice 
of One Crying in the Wilderness," and " Let Brotherly 
Love Continue." In and about the pulpit were century 
plants. The varied green of these harmonized with the 
lillies, roses and other cut flowers renewed from day to 
day. 

In the two front angles of the room were red and blue 
banners bearing the historic names of John Calvin and 
John Knox. On the window ledges, in gilt letters on a 
background of blue or red, were the names of Francis 
Herron, Jonathan Edwards, John Witherspoon, John 
Rogers, John McMillan, Archibald Alexander, David 
Elliot, Charles Hodge, Albert Barnes, Philemon Fowler, 
John Elder, Charles Nisbet, William R. DeWitt. Many of 



12 



Centennial Memorial. 



these were men who have been identified with this church 
in some part of its history, and many were men whom the 
whole church delighted to honor. The red and blue, the 
colors of the Scotch Presbyterian church, were prominent 
also in the decorations of the choir gallery in the rear of 
the auditorium. The front of the gallery was covered with 
blue bunting, fluted in vertical lines and drawn together at 
regular intervals, and fastened with red bows midway be- 
tween top and base. The effect was heightened by the 
delicate green of the licopodium and the sheen of the rho- 
dodendron leaves. A line of ground pine ran around the 
wainscoting, windows and doorways, making a pretty 
border of living green for the woodwork. 

The whole was a poem in color. The prevailing white of 
the room lent itself sympathetically to the red and blue of 
the decorations and to the green of plant and vine. 

The tasteful distribution and graceful arrangement of 
material gave a symmetrical completeness to the design. 
The historical appropriateness of mottoes and names, added 
intellectual finish to the aesthetic effect. Color, form, 
significance, all conspired to produce an effect, full of 
delight, and " whispered of peace, and truth, and friendli- 
ness unequalled." 

As one passed from the auditorium into the lecture-room 
and parlor, still further evidence of the decoration commit- 
tee's activity was seen. On the walls of the former room to 
the right of the platform were a large water-colored picture 
of the present church edifice and a large crayon portrait of 
Rev. Thomas Hastings Robinson, D. D., pastor from 1854 
to 1884. To the left of the platform were large crayon 



Decorations and Historical Exhibit. 



13 



portraits of Eev. William RadclifFe DeWitt, D. D., pastor 
from 1818 to 1867, and of James Wallace Weir, Superin- 
tendent of the Sunday-school from 1834 to 1878. 

The parlor walls were adorned with photographs of the 
first and second church edifices, the old Court house, called 
"the cradle of Sunday-school enterprise in Harrisburg," 
Brant's Hall, in which the congregation worshiped while 
the present edifice was being constructed, and Calvary 
Chapel. There were also floor plans of the first church, 
before and after it was remodeled in 1826, and the second 
church. Over the mantel was a large frame containing a 
photograph of the present pastor, his assistant and the five 
elders of the present session. On one of the sidewalls was 
another large frame containing photographs of nineteen 
former elders. The committee found that there are no 
likenesses in existence of the other six former elders. Near 
this hung a crayon loaned by Rev. Henry C. McCook, D. D., 
of Philadelphia, showing an early sacramental occasion 
in the woods; also a frame containing several handsomely 
painted church seals; another frame containing pictures of 
the log colleges out of which grew Princeton and Jefferson, 
and a typical pioneer Scotch-Irish school-house, and two 
flags of the Scotch Covenanter Church, all loaned by Doctor 
McCook. 

In large glass cases there were gathered, and carefully pre- 
served many early records and relics of church and Sunday- 
school. There were the account books of John Kean, 
Treasurer of the congregation from 1790-1792, old receipts, 
lottery tickets used in the lottery, from the proceeds of which 
the first church was built, the first Sunday-school minute 



14 



Centennial Memorial. 



book, a complete set of the different hymn books used in 
the church lecture room and Sunday-school, several of the 
musical instruments used in the choir, the communion sets 
of Paxtang and Derry churches, communion tokens form- 
erly in use in these congregations, a communion cup from 
old Hanover church, printed and manuscript sermons by 
former pastors. Indeed the memorabilia and curios were 
numbered by hundreds and cannot be mentioned, much 
less described. Many persons in the city and out of it 
kindly co-operated with the committee in making this 
interesting collection — so many, in fact, that it is impossible 
to name them in this place. The exhibit was visible history. 
It told the story of the church's progress from primitive 
days through the most active century of the world's life. It 
revealed that this church has kept abreast of the best 
thought and life. It has evidently not marched through 
the years with laggard steps. 





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CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE. 



Rev. George B. Stewart, D. D., Chairman ; Samuel J. M. 
McCarrell, M. Wilson McAlarney, Mrs. Isabella S. Kerr, Peter 
K. Sprenkel, Charles L. Bailey, Gilbert M. McCauley, Samuel 
W. Fleming, George R. Fleming, Mrs. Gilbert M. McCauley. 

Sub-Committees. 

Invitation Committee. — Charles L. Bailey, Chairman; 
David Fleming, Mrs. Julia A. Briggs, Mrs. David Flem- 
ing, Mrs. George B. Stewart, Alexander Roberts, John H. 
Weiss, Dr. Jacob A. Miller, Mrs. Sarah Doll, Mrs. Jacob 
Haldeman, Miss Sibyl M. Weir, Samuel D. Ingram, George 
W. Boyd, Lyman D. Gilbert. 

Programme Committee.— S. J. M. McCarrell, Chairman; 
John C. Harvey, David Fleming, Spencer C. Gilbert, John G. 
Orr, Robert H. Moffitt. 

Entertainment Committee. — G. M. McCauley, Chairman; 
John C. Harvey. 

Publication Committee. — M. Wilson McAlarney, Chair- 
man; Charles H. Bergner, Edward J. Stackpole, J. Henry 
Spicer, Samuel C. Miller. 

Finance Committee. — Samuel W. Fleming, Chairman; 
Robert H. Moffitt, Henry C. Orth, Spencer C. Gilbert, David 
Fleming, Dr. Cherrick Westbrook, Jr. 

Decoration Committee. — Mrs. Isabella S. Kerr, Chairinan; 
Mrs. Gilbert M. McCauley, Mrs. Elizabeth C. Kunkel, Miss 
Carrie Pearson, Mrs, William O. Hickok, Jr., Mrs. George R. 
Fleming, Mrs. William E. Bailey, Miss Margaret B. Mowry, 



16 



Centennial Memorial. 



Miss Caroline Reily, Miss Mary W. Kerr, Melancthon S. Shot- 
well, George W. Reily, Miss Anna C. Weir, Mrs. Edward 
Bailey, Mrs. Samuel J. M. McCarrell, Miss Rachel T. Briggs, 
Mrs. Frank R. Sehell, Mrs. John C. Harvey, Mrs. Samuel C. 
Miller, Miss Sara B. Chayne, Miss Annie R. Kelker, John C. 
Harvey, James B. Bailey, William E. Bailey. 

Reception Committee. — Mrs. G-ilbert M. McCauley, Chair- 
man ; Mrs. Charles H. Bergner, Mrs. G-eorge C. Bent, Mrs. 
Anna M. Bigler, Mrs. David Fleming, Jr., Mrs. Dr. Jacob A. 
Miller, Mrs. Ellen W. Stees, Mrs. D. Truman Boyd, Miss 
Maud A. Hench, Mrs. Luther R. Kelker, Mrs. David Martin, 
Mrs. Howard F. Martin, Mrs. Dr. Henry L. Orth, Mrs. M. 
Wilson McAlarney, Miss Caroline B. Sheafer, Mrs. Elizabeth 
Reily, Mrs. M. Elizabeth Cathcart, Mrs. Horace A. Chayne, 
Mrs. Samuel W. Fleming, Mrs. Lyman D. Gilbert, Miss Ella 
L. Hart, Mrs. J. Henry Spicer, Miss Mary Vandling, Mrs. 
John H. Weiss, Mrs. Henry F. Quickel, Mrs. Spencer C. 
Gilbert. 

Music Committee. — George R. Fleming, Chairman; Wil- 
liam G. Underwood, Mrs. John C. Harvey, David E. Crozier, 
Miss Sara B. Chayne, Miss Margaret B. Mowry. 

Ushers. — Peter K. Sprenkel, Chairman; Charles W. Fos- 
ter, William H. Sharp, Horace A. Chayne, Melancthon S. 
Shotwell, William M. Fahnestock, William M. Graydon, Wil- 
liam H. Shaffer, Edward J. Stackpole, Edward Baily, Samuel 
W. Fleming, Dr. John B. McAlister, Joseph G. Ewing, B. 
Edward Taylor, Luther R. Kelker, Charles F. Spicer, Henry 
F. Quickel, Jacob J. Franck, George W. Reily, Warren H. 
Wasson, Dr. Cherrick Westbrook, Jr., Lucian Notestine, 
Edward L. Groff, William H. Middleton, Gilbert M. McCauley 



CENTENNIAL CHOIR. 



George R. Fleming, Director. 
David E. Crozier, Organist. 

Soloists. — Miss Rachel T. Briggs, Miss Reba Bunton, Miss 
Sara B. Chayne, Miss Helen Espy, Mr. Edward Z. Gross, Mrs. 
Edward Z. Gross, Miss Lillian M. Kline, Mr. Win. G. Under- 
wood, Mr. Geo. R. Fleming. 

Soprano. — Miss Helen Espy, Mrs. David Fleming, Jr., Miss 
Addie Geiger, Mrs. William M. Graydon, Miss Margaret P. 
Grayson, Mrs. Edward Z. Gross, Mrs. Edward J. Hardy, Miss 
Maud A, Hench, Miss Mary Killough, Miss Lillian M. Kline, 
Mrs. Gilbert M. McCauley, Miss Sara J. Miller, Miss Margaret 
B. Mowry, Miss Marie A. Segelbaum, Mrs. Joshua W. Sharpe, 
Mrs. J. Henry Spicer, Miss Elizabeth F. L. Walker. 

Contralto. — Miss Reba Bunton, Miss Sara B. Chayne, Miss 
Elizabeth Given, Miss Louisa Given, Mrs. John C. Harvey, 
Miss Cora L. Snyder, Miss Mabel E. Vaughn. 

Tenor. — Mr. David Fleming, Mr. George R. Fleming, Mr. 
Edward Z. Gross, Mr. Peter K. Sprenkel, Mr. Augustus G. 
Shantz. 

Bass. — Mr. J. Roberts Given, Mr. Henry A. Kelker, Jr., 
Mr. Harvey J. Miller, Mr. Samuel C. Miller, Mr. Geo. B. 
Roberts, Mr. John B. Roberts, Mr. George F. Sharp, Mr. William 
G. Underwood. 



ORDER OF SERVICES. 



SUNDAY MORNING, 
February 11th, 189k, at 10.30 o'clock. 
Public Worship. — The Minister of the Church conducting 
the service, assisted by the Minister's Assistant and by Rev. 
Thomas H. Robinson, D. D., and the Rev. John DeWitt, D. D., 
LL. D., Professor of Church History in Princeton Theo- 
logical Seminary, preaching the Sermon. Theme of the 
Sermon, 1 'The Beginnings of Presbyterianism in the Mid- 
dle Colonies." 

Order of Service. 

Organ Prelude — Iste Confessor, Guilmant 

Doxology, in Long Meter, .... [Congregation standing] 
Invocation, closing with the Lord's Prayer [Congre- 
gation standing], Rev. David M. Skill ing 

Hymn* No. 718, vs. 1, 2, 3 

Scripture Lesson, .... Isaiah 60 : 1-9 ; Colossians 1 : 1-18 

Prayer, Rev. George B. Stewart, D. D. 

Announcements. 

Anthem — Jubilate Deo, Buck 

Offertory — Adagio from Sonata in C Minor, . . . Guilmant 

Hymn, t , No. 575, vs. 1, 2, 6 

Sermon, Rev. John DeWitt, D. D. , LL. D. 

Prayer, Rev. Thomas H. Robinson, D. D. 

Hymn, : ..No. 730, vs. 1, 2 

Benediction, Rev. Dr. John DeWitt 

Organ Postlude — March in D, Smart 

* In place of the hymn, Miss Rachel T. Briggs sang "The Good 
Shepherd," by Barrie. 
f Omitted. 



Order of Services. 



19 



SUNDAY EVENING, 
February 11th, 1894, at 6.00 o'clock. 

Seventy-eighth Anniversary of the Sunday-School. 
Mr. Samuel J. M. McCarrell, Superintendent, presiding. 

Order of Service. 
Organ Prelude — March in F, Silas 



Anthem — I was Griad, Choir of Senior Department 

Invocation,* [Congregation standing] 

Lord's Prayer, [Chanted, all standing] 

Hymn, No. 30, vs. 1, 3, Winnowed Songs 



Report of Primary Department. 
Exercises by Primary Department. 

Anthem — Lord, Thy Mercy Streameth, 

Choir of Senior Department 

Address, t Rev. John DeWitt, D. D., LL. D. 

Report of Intermediate Department. 
Exercises by Intermediate Department. 

Hymn, . . No. 48, vs. 1, 3, Winnowed Songs, [All standing] 

Address, Rev. Thomas H. Robinson, D. D. 

Report of Senior Department. 

Scripture Lesson, . . . [All standing and read responsively] 
Supt. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on 

a hill cannot be hid. 

School. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a 

bushel, but on a candlestick; it giveth light unto all that are 

in the house. 

Supt. Let your light so shine before men that they may see 
your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 

* Offered by Rev. William P. Patterson. 

t Rev. Dr. DeWitt was unable to be present. Mr. Geo. E. S terry, 
of New York City, gave an address. 



20 



Centennial Memorial. 



/School. Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, 
where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break 
through and steal : 

JSupt. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where 
neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not 
break through nor steal : 

>School. For where your treasure is, there will your heart 
be also. 

tSupt. Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek, and ye shall 
find ; knock, and it shall be opened unto you : 

/School. For every one that asketh receiveth ; and he that 
seeketh findeth ; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 
Anthem — Thee will We Worship, Choir of Senior Department 
Report of Chinese Department. 
Report of Calvary Chapel School. 
Summary of Reports. 

Anthem — Rest for the Weary, Choir of the Senior Department 

Address, The Pastor 

Distribution of Prizes — For unbroken attendance during 
the year. 

Hymn, . . . No. 104, v. 1, Winnowed Songs [All standing] 

Benediction, Rev. David M. Skilling 

Organ Postlude — Chorus in D Major, Guilmant 



MONDAY EVENING, 
February 12th, 1894, at 7.30 o'clock. 

Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. Rev. George S. 
Chambers, D. D. , Minister of Pine Street Presbyterian 
Church, presiding ; and Rev. Albert B. Williamson, Minister 
of Paxtang Presbyterian Church, Rev. George B. Stewart, 
D. D. , Minister of Market Square Presbyterian Church, Rev. 



Order of Services. 



21 



David M. Skilling, Minister's Assistant of Market Square 
Presbyterian Church, Rev. Reuben H. Armstrong, Minister of 
Elder Street Presbyterian Church, Rev. George S. Duncan, 
Minister of Westminster Presbyterian Church, and Rev. Wil- 
liam P. Patterson, Minister of Olivet Presbyterian Church, 
assisting. 

The Elders* of Paxtang, Market Square, Pine Street, Elder 
Street, Covenant, Westminster and Olivet Churches distribut- 
ing the Emblems as followeth : 

The Bread: Elders Spencer C. Barber, Jacob A. Miller, 
Gilbert M. McCauley, John C. Harvey, H. Murray Graydon, 
Francis Jordan, Cassius M. Brown, William J. Adore, Turner 
Cooper, Sr., John Curwen, John J. Craig, William Jones, J. 
Wallace Elder, William S. Shaffer, Sr., and Abram L. Groff. 

The Wine: Matthew B. Elder, Francis W. Rutherford, 
Samuel J. M. McCarrell, J. Henry Spicer, Jacob F. Seiler, 
Daniel W. Cox, Thomas J. Miller, Walter W. Williams, John 

* All the elders were not present. Those not present sent reasons 
for non-attendance. Those present distributed the Emblems accord- 
ing to the following- arrangement : 

Left side aisle ; The Bread, Daniel W. Cox, Dr. Jacob A. Miller ; 
The Wine, J. Henry Spicer, Thomas J. Miller. 

Left center aisle, left side ; The Bread and the Wine, Jacob F. 
Seiler, Gilbert M. McCauley. 

Left center aisle, right side ; The Bread and the Wine, Francis 
Jordan, Matthew B. Elder. 

Right center aisle, left side ; The Bread and the Wine, John M. 
Stewart, Abram L. Groff. 

Right center aisle, right side ; The Bread, William S. Shaffer, J. 
Wallace Elder ; The Wine, William S. Shaffer, Samuel H. Garland. 

Right side aisle ; The Bread, William Jones, John J. Craig ; The 
Wine, David R. Elder, Alexander Adams. 

Gallery ; The Bread and The Wine, John C. Harvey. 



22 



Centennial Memorial. 



M. Stewart, Samuel H. Garland, John E. Patterson, David R. 
Elder, John E. Daniel, Jacob K. Walker and Alexander 
Adams. 

Order of Service. 
Organ Prelude — Chorus from Passion Music, .... Bach 

Anthem — Holy Spirit, Come, O Come,* Martin 

Invocation, Rev. Reuben H. Armstrong 

Hymn— No. 696, vs. 1, 2, 6, . . . Rev. Albert B. Williamson 

Scripture Lesson. Rev. David M. Skilling 

Address, Rev. Geo. S. Chambers, D. D. 

Words of Institution, .... Rev. Geo. S. Chambers, D. D. 

Prayer, . . Rev. William P. Patterson 

Distribution of the Bread, . Rev. Geo. S. Chambers, D. D. 
Distribution of the Wine, . . Rev. Geo. B. Stewart, D. D. 

Prayer of Thanksgiving, Rev. Geo. S. Duncan 

Hymn— No. 688, vs. 1, 4, 5, . . Rev. Geo. S.Chambers, D. D. 

Benediction, Rev. Geo. S. Chambers, D. D. 

Organ Postlude — Hymn of the Apostles from the Re- 
demption, ... Gounod 



TUESDAY EVENING, 
February 13th, 1894, at 7.30 o'clock. 

Rev. David M. Skilling, Minister's Assistant, presiding. 
Musical Festival. Mr. George R. Fleming, Director. 
Mr. David E. Crozier, Organist. 

Programme. 

Organ Prelude — Vor spiel to Parsifal, Wagner 

Anthem — Festival Te Deum, Buck 

Prayer, f 

* k< Lead, Kindly Light," was substituted. 

tPrayer by Rev. Harris R. Schenck, Chambersburg, Pa. 



Order of Services. 



23 



Scripture Lesson,* Psalm cl. 

Solo, t Miss Rachel T. Briggs 

Organ Interlude — Andante in F, Mozart 

Anthem — Lo ! It is I, Faure- Shelly 

SoLO,t Miss Reba Bunton 

Hymn, by the Congregation, all standing, sung as in ye 

olden time, No. 456, vs. 1, 2, 4 

Duet J Mr. and Mrs. Edward Z. Gross 

Organ Interlude — Pastoral from Sonata in D Minor, 

Reinberger 

Anthem — O ! Clap Your Hands, Buck 

Address — The Hymnology of the Mother Presbyterian 

Church of Harrisburg, with Some Reminiscences of 

Choirs and Choir Bays, . . . H. Murray G-raydon, Esq. 

Anthem — Qui Tollis, , Farmer 

Solo, || Miss Helen Espy 

Hymn, Congregation standing and singing as in the 

days of the fathers, No. 394, vs. 1, 3, 4 

Benediction, 11" Rev. David M. Skilling 

Organ Postlude — Marche Pontifical, Lemmens 



WEDNESDAY EVENING, 
February 14th, 1894, at 7.30 o'clock. 

Rev. William A. West, Stated Clerk of the Presbytery of 
Carlisle, Welsh Run, Penna. , presiding. 

*Lesson read by Rev. James Praser, Ph. D., of Sparrow's Point, Md. 
fMiss Briggs did not sing. William G. Underwood sang, " Glory 
to Thee, my God, this Night." 
JMiss Bunton sang, " Eye hath not Seen," from Gaul's "Holy City." 
gMr. and Mrs. Gross sang, "Forever with the Lord." 
||Miss Espy sang, " Jerusalem," by Henry M. Parker. 
TjBenediction by Rev. Charles Edward Greig, Paris, France. 



24 



Centennial Memorial. 



The Presbyterian Churches of Harrisburg. Addresses 
by representatives appointed by the several Sessions. 

Order or Service. 



Organ Prelude — Marche Religieuse, Guilmant 

Anthem — Hark, Hark, My Soul ! * Buck 

Scripture Lesson,! Philippians 2 : 1-11 

Prayer, t 

Hymn, No. 232, vs. 1, 3, 4 



Address — Paxtang Church, organized about 1726, . . . 

Rev, Albert B. Williamson 

Address — Market Square Church, Organized February 

16, 1794, ........ §Hon. Samuel J. M. McCarrell 

Address — Pine Street Church, Organized May 22, 1858, 

Prof. Jacob F. Seiler, Ph. D. 

Hymn, . . . . • No. 92, vs. 1, 3 

Address — Elder Street Church, Organized October 28, 

1858, Mr. Cassius M. Brown 

Address — Covenant Church, Organized September 9, 1866, 

Mr. Samuel H. G-arland 

Address — Westminster Church, Organized June 19, 1873, 

Rev. George S. Duncan 

Address — Olivet Church, Organized October 15, 1889, . 

Rev. William P. Patterson 



Prayer. 

Hymn, No. 639, vs. 1, 3 

Benediction, Rev. William A. West 

Organ Postlude — Chorus in D Minor, Guilmant 



* Martin's " Holy Spirit, Come, O Come " was substituted. 
fRead by Rev. Reuben H. Armstrong, Pastor of Elder Street 
Presbyterian Church, City. 

t Prayer offered by Rev. Benjamin F. Beck, City Missionary. 
I Mr. McCarrell detained by illness. The Pastor took his place. 



Order of Services. 



25 



THURSDAY EVENING. 

February 15th, 1894, at 7.30 o'clock. 

Rev. George B. Stewart, D. D., Minister, presiding. 

Historical Evening. — The Rev. Thomas H. Robinson, D. D., 
Reunion Professor of Sacred Rhetoric, Church Government 
and Pastoral Theology in Western Theological Seminary, 
Allegheny, Penn'a, delivering the address. 

Order of Service. 

Organ Prelude — Benedictus, Mackenzie 

Anthem — Hallelujah Chorus, Handel 

The Apostles' Creed, . . [In unison, congregation standing] 

Invocation,* [Congregation standing] 

Hymn, No. 2, vs. 1, 4, 5 

Scripture Lesson, t 

Hymn — No. 435, vs. 1, 2, 3, 5, . . . [Congregation standing] 
Historical Address — A Century Plant, . . . 



By Rev. Thomas H. Robinson, D. D. 

Hymn — No. 953, [Congregation standing] 

Lord's Prayer, [In unison, congregation standing] 

Benediction, By Rev. Thomas H. Robinson, D. D. 



Organ Postlude — Chorus in E Flat, Guilmant 



FRIDAY EVENING, 
February 16th, 1894, at 7.30 o'clock. 

A Reception by the Congregation to their Guests. 
Entrance by side door. Hon. John B. McPherson, Lebanon, 
Pa., presiding. During the evening there will be an informal 

* By Rev. I. Potter Hayes, Wrightsville, Pa. 

t Psalm 89 : 1-11 by Rev. John L. McKeehan, Steelton, Pa. 



26 



Centennial Memorial. 



musical programme,* and brief impromptu addresses by some 
of the guests, f 

* The musical programme consisted of " The Angel Came," F. H. 
Cowen, by Miss Reba Bunton ; " They Shall Hunger no More," from 
Gaul's "The Holy City," Miss Reba Bunton and Mr. Geo. R. Fleming ; 
"Come Unto Me," Coenen, Mr. Geo. R. Fleming. These were sung 
in the auditorium. In the lecture-room were given two numbers by 
Messrs. Henry A. Kelker, Jr., J. F. Hutchinson, H. L. Vance, Charles 
F. Etter, Frank S. Morrow, members of the Harrisburg Banjo Club ; 
a piano duet, overture to "Rienzi," Wagner, by Mrs. Frank R. Schell 
and Mrs. David Fleming, Jr.: "The Miller of the Dee," "Ben Bolt," 
"Annie Laurie," " Blue Bells of Scotland," by "The Mendelssohn 
Quartette," composed of Mr. Geo. R. Fleming, Mr. Edward Z. Gross, 
Mr. William G. Underwood, Mr. Lucius S. Bigelow. 

t Addresses were made by Rev. Wm. C. Cattell, D. D., Philadel- 
phia ; Major General Geo. R. Snowden, Philadelphia ; Col. J. Ross 
Thompson, Erie, Pa.; Rev. Henry E. Niles, D. D., York, Pa.; Mr. 
Franklin W. Rutherford, Paxtang. 



PROGRAMME OF ORGAN RECITALS. 



Monday, February 12th. 

Adagio from 6th Organ Symphony, Wider 

Fantasia m A Minor, Lemmens 

Andante from Fifth Symphony, Beethoven 

Cantilene Pastorale, . . . . . Guilmant 

Gothic March, Salome 

Induant Justiciam, Guilmant 

Tuesday, February 13th. 

Sonata in E Minor, Merkel 

Pictures from the Orient, Nos. II., III., VI., . . . Schumann 

Andante from Symphony in C, Schubert 

Song to the Evening Star from Tannhauser, .... Wagner 
Funeral March and Song of the Seraphs, Guilmant 

Wednesday, February lJfth. 

Concerto for Organ, No. III., . . Handel 

Adagio from Opus, 97, * Beethoven 

Sonata in E flat, Buck 

Two Hymn Tunes of the Olden Time, Anon 

Old Hebrew Prayer, Anon 

Judex, from Mors et Vita, Gounod 

Torchlight March, Guilmant 

Thursday, February 15th. 

Concerto, No. I., Handel 

Sonata, No. IV., Mendelssohn 

Andante in A Minor, Merkel 

Rhapsody in D, Saint- Saens 



28 



Centennial Memorial. 



Tremmerei, Schumann 

Prayer from Lohengrin, Wagner 

Funeral March and Song of the Seraphs (by request), .... 

Guilmant 

Friday, February 16th. 

Allegretto from Symphony No. 7, Beethoven 

Sonata in D Minor, Guilmant 

Adagio, Liszt 

Andante Religioso, Liszt 

Pilgrim's Chorus from Tannhauser, Wagner 

Ave Maria, Arcadelt- Liszt 

Funeral March and Song of the Seraphs (by request), . . . 

Guilmant 



CENTENNIAL WEEK. 



J 



SUNDAY MOEKDSTG, 
February the 11th, 18H, at 10.30 o'clock. 



Cowper, speaking of the " soft music of the village bells," 
says: 

"With easy force it opens all the cells, 
Where Memory slept." 

This was the experience of many as the sweet, deep tones 
of the Market Square Church bell announced that the hour 
had arrived for commencing the Centennial commemoration 
of the founding of this church, and called the people to the 
house of prayer. 

The cells where Memory slept were unlocked, and the 
sleeping occupant was called to his task. It was an easy 
and pleasant task. Three generations of worshipers have 
passed along these streets to the house of God. The forms 
of many are recalled with loving veneration, the names of 
others are rehearsed with a deep appreciation of the sterling 
worth and valiant service of those who bore them, while in 
the shadows of Memory's cell, half- revealed, half-hidden are 
many, many more who are only known now by what they 
have done. Memory is busy. Joyful, tender, solemn feel- 
ings are evoked as we enter the sanctuary and recall past 
experiences and departed friends. The day with its crisp 
air and " blue vault without a cloud " ; the occasion provok- 
ing historical reminiscence ; the sanctuary beautifully deco- 
rated, and now filled with an audience crowding into every 



34 



Centennial Memorial. 



vacant space ; the pulpit tastefully ornamented with century 
plants and cut flowers, and occupied by a beloved former 
Minister, the honored son of another former Minister, the 
present Minister and his Assistant; all conspire to make the 
opening service of Centennial Week impressive. 

The hour appointed having arrived, the service was begun 
with the organ prelude, Guilmant's " Iste Confessor," a set of 
elaborate variations on the old Latin hymn of that name. 
At the conclusion of the prelude the congregation arose and 
united in singing the Doxology in long meter : 

Praise God from whom all blessings flow : 
Praise him all creatures here below ; 
Praise him above, ye heavenly host ; 
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. 

While the congregation remained standing, Kev. David 
M. Skilling, Minister's Assistant, offered the Invocation, the 
congregation uniting in the Lord's Prayer at its close. Miss 
Rachel T. Briggs sang with great acceptance Barrie's " The 
Good Shepherd." The Minister read for the Scripture 
lesson from the Old Testament, Isaiah Ix. 1-9, and from 
the New Testament, Colossians i. 1-18, and offered prayer. 

He then gave an account of the preparations for the Cen- 
tennial observances, and called particular attention to some 
of the special features of the week upon which the church 
was entering. He closed his statement in the following 
words: 

" Those who founded this church and those who have suc- 
ceeded them in its membership wrought faithfully, fearing 
God and serving man in all earnestness and sincerity. It 



Sunday Morning. 



35 



is meet that we celebrate their deeds and treasure the mem- 
ory of their virtue. The Great Head of the Church, our 
God and Saviour, has been pleased for a hundred years to 
show favor unto this portion of his glorious church. It is 
fitting that we bear testimony to his abounding goodness 
and superabounding grace toward our beloved Zion. This 
is our double purpose in these Centennial services : to 
recount the deeds of our fathers, and to exalt the name of 
our God. 

It is our prayer that these days may be the dawn of a new 
era of activity, purity, and consecration on the part of us 
who have fallen heir to such a goodly heritage ; and of con- 
tinued and increasing favor from the God of our fathers, our 
God, and the God of our children to all generations." 

Dudley Buck's bright, vigorous " Jubilate Deo " was ren- 
dered with spirit by the large Centennial Choir. While an 
offering for the Synodical Sustentation Fund was being 
gathered, Guilmant's Adagio from Sonata in C Minor, a 
slow, graceful movement, was rendered on the grand organ. 
The Minister introduced the speaker of the occasion in the 
following words : 

"The Rev. Dr. DeWitt, who will now address us on ' The 
Beginnings of Presbyterianism in the Middle Colonies,' 
needs no introduction to this congregation. Born and 
reared in this city and church, he is personally known to 
many of you. Consecrated to the Gospel ministry, he has 
become the worthy and honored son of his revered father. 
First as a pastor, in Irvington on the Hudson, Boston and 
Philadelphia, then as a professor in Lane Theological Sem- 
inary, McCormick Theological Seminary, and now in 



36 



Centennial Memorial. 



Princeton Theological Seminary, the Church has honored 
herself in recognizing his ability and in honoring him. We 
are proud to claim him as one of us, and most happy to 
have him now stand in the pulpit his father so long occu- 
pied, and inaugurate these Centennial services." 



BEGINNINGS OF PRESBYTERIANISM IN THE 
MIDDLE COLONIES. 



By Rev. JOHN DeWitt, D. D., LL. D. 



I need not assure you of the great pleasure with which I 
received your invitation to take part in the services by 
which you had decided to celebrate the hundred years of 
our church's life. I say our church ; because, after all, this 
church must always be mine in a sense in which no other 
church can be. I was born one of its members; and when 
my membership iu the Cnurch of God was recognized in the 
sacrament of baptism, it was among the children of this 
church that my name was enrolled. It was in the cata- 
chetical class and in the Sunday-schools of this church that 
I was instructed in the principles of our religion ; and when 
I was led to confirm by my own act the vows of baptism, it 
was here that I united with some of you in partaking for 
the first time of the Lord's Supper. From this church I 
went to the Theological Seminary; and I must always 
remember, with great distinctness, that it was in the lecture- 
room of this church, while my father and Dr. Robinson 
were sitting in the pulpit, that I preached my first sermon 
to a company of friends, of whom some are before me at 
this time. 

And Harrisburg can never be anything to me but home; 
my own city, the city of my people. A month or two ago I 
had occasion to spend two days here, and brought with me 



38 



Centennial Memorial. 



one of my nephews. Both of us were deeply interested in 
visiting the resting places of five generations of our ances- 
tors; and it was with no ordinary feelings that, in reading 
the epitaphs of those from whom we were descended, we 
found among them the names* of the first white settler of 
the place, of the founder of the city, of the first Senator 
from the Commonwealth, of the first president of the town's 
eldest bank, and of one who for a half century was pastor 
of the city's eldest Christian congregation. 

One who was born and reared in this place must always 
think of the beauty of its situation with enthusiasm. It is 
my good fortune always to have lived in the presence of 
some strikingly beautiful natural object. My firsc parish 
was on the banks of the Hudson, just at the southern 
edge of the broad Tappan-zee. Northward my vision was 
bounded by the bold outlines of the lower Highlands, while 
looking down the river, I could 

See sunrise rest or sunset fade 
Along the frowning palisade. 

From the banks of the Hudson I went to Boston and the 
banks of the Charles where it broadens into the Back-bay. 
Around me were the hills and uplands made memorable 
by a great history, and made to sing with beauty by the 
energy and intelligence of a great people; while a short 
walk brought me to the noble harbor and bay, "where," 
as Emerson has said, 

Twice a day the loving sea 
Takes Boston in his arms. 

* John Harris, the first ; John Harris, the second ; William Maclay 
William Wallace ; William Radcliffe DeWitt. 



Sermon of Rev. John DeWitt. 



39 



From Boston I went to Philadelphia ; to the loveliness of 
Fairmount and the Wissahickon, and the broad and shining 
glory of the stately Delaware. From Philadelphia I was 
called to Lane Theological Seminary, and lived on Walnut 
Hills. The banks of the Ohio are beautiful from Pittsburg 
to the Mississippi; but at no point are the hills clothed 
with a more glorious green or with statelier trees, than at 
Cincinnati. From the valley of the Ohio I moved to the 
great City of the Lake; and I am sure that all of you who 
last summer saw the living waters of Lake Michigan must 
have been profoundly impressed with the magnificence of 
that great inland sea. And now at Princeton — whether 
looking eastward over the great plain lands toward the 
ocean, or westward to the first foothills of the mountains, 
or about me on the stately trees which have helped to give 
fame to our University town — I rejoice that my lot has 
again been cast in a place " suffused and saturated with the 
element of beauty." 

But the beauty of Harrisburg has a charm for me which 
that of no other place possesses. And sometimes, when I 
begin to fear that the charm resides, not in the scene but 
in my relation to it, I dissipate the fear by reading what 
another Harrisburger, the late Dr. Benjamin Wallace, has 
written of it; and I will please myself by reading it to you. 
" It there be a more beautiful spot on earth," writes Dr 
Wallace in his paper on the Insurrection of the Paxton Boys, 
" if there be a more beautiful spot on earth than that where 
the men of Paxton settled, we have never seen it. From 
its source in Otsego Lake, along by its lovely windings where 
the Chemung intersects the North Branch, by the Valley of 



40 



Centennial Memorial 



the Wyoming which lives forever in the imagination of 
Campbell, but which is fairer even than the semi-tropical 
fancy of which he was enamored ; on by the bold scenery 
of the meeting of its waters at Northumberland, to its broad 
glory and its magnificent union with the Chesapeake, every 
mile of the Susquehanna is beautiful. Other rivers have 
their points of loveliness or of grandeur ; the Susquehanna 
has every form of beauty and sublimity that belongs to 
rivers. Everywhere its course is deflected. It begins a 
wooded lake ; it winds a limpid brook by meadows and over 
silver pebbles; it makes its way through mountains; it 
loiters restingly by their base; it sweeps in broad courses 
by the valleys. Its vast width in its mad Spring freshets, 
when, swollen by the melted snows, it rushes from the hills 
with irrestible force, leaves with its fall island after island in 
its mid channel of the richest green and the most surpass- 
ing beauty ; while those passages through the mountains 
afford points of scenery, which it is no exaggeration to call 
sublime. The Susquehanna makes the grandest of these 
passages just below the mouth of the Juniata. Its course 
there is several miles long, before it entirely disengages itself 
from the rapids called Hunter's Falls, which are the remains 
of the rocky barrier that once resisted its way. Entirely at 
liberty, it pours its stream, a mile wide, along a channel 
some fifty feet beneath its eastern bank. About seven miles 
below the mountains, at a point where they look blue in the 
distance, flows in a little stream, which the Indians called 
called Pextang, Paixtang, or Paxton. This mountain range 
is the northern boundary of the great valley, which, under- 
laid with blue limestone, covered originally with the richest 



Sermon of Rev. John DeWitt. 



41 



and noblest forest growth, and including within it the 
garden of the Atlantic slope extends from Newburg on the 
Hudson, by Easton on the Delaware, by Reading on the 
Schuylkill, by Harrisburg on the Susquehanna, by Carlisle 
and Chambersburg, and Hagerstown and Winchester, until 
it loses itself in the North Carolina hills. The point of great- 
est beauty in all that valley is the spot where it is cloven by 
the Susquehanna." * So a son of Harrisburg and of this 
church wrote more than a third of a century ago, of the 
beauty of the place of which every foot of ground was pre- 
cious dust to him. And so doubtless all her scattered sons 
and daughters feel, as they think of the mountains, and the 
valley, and the trees, and the gorgeous sunsets, and the 
shining river, that glorified their childhood. 

I dare not trust myself to speak of the tender personal 
associations and the sacred memories which make a return 
to Harrisburg almost a holy pilgrimage. For, though I am 
tempted to be very free and personal to-day, I must pause 
before I stir up the deepest fountains of feeling in you and 
in myself. But I cannot forbear to say, that every Harris- 
burger, who is also a son of this church, must feel himself 
made better by returning to the place in which that man of 
God and friend of man, James Wallace Weir, so long did 
justice and loved mercy and walked humbly with his God. 

Among the many traits of Harrisburg that endear it to a 
native, who has been called to live away from it, is its 
charming social life. This social life derives no small part 
of its charm from the fact that Harrisburg, with its sur- 
rounding country, was settled not by one class of people, 



^Presbyterian Quarterly Review, April, 1860. 



42 



Centennial Memorial. 



but by two classes. We are beginning to-day the celebration 
of the establishment a century ago of a church called the 
English Presbyterian Congregation. But we must not forget 
that, during the most of its life there has existed by its 
side in Christian amity a German Presbyterian Congrega- 
tion. While here the spiritual descendants of John Knox 
have been fed on the catechism of Westminster, there the 
spiritual descendants of Ulrich Zwingli have been fed on 
the catechism of Heidelberg. The union of these two 
peoples has made a broader and kindlier, a far more 
genial social life than either would have made. Since the 
Scotch or Scotch-Irish has always been the dominant ele- 
ment in this congregation, and since in the course of this 
address I shall have a good deal to say about it, it will not 
be out of place now to remind ourselves how muoh we all 
owe to the other, the distinctively Teutonic element, with its 
less polemic and more genial, though perhaps more lax 
modes of religious thinking ; with its home-loving, earth- 
hungering sentiment; with its gemuthlichkeit, which, though 
the word is perhaps untranslatable into English, our 
German brethren have imparted to the social life of this 
whole district. This union is seen in the union of family 
names. It is not long since you were accustomed to meet 
on the streets of your city one of the eldest members 
of the Harrisburg bar, whose geniality and courtesy were 
always a benediction ; who, in his Christian name, pre- 
served the memory of his Scotch, and in his surname pre- 
served the memory of his Netherland ancestors ; I refer to the 
late Mr. Hamilton Alricks. But the union of the Scotch 
Hamilton and the Teutonic Alricks, is only an instance of 



Sermon of Rev. John DeWitt. 



43 



what is typical and common in Harrisburg families and 
Harrisburg names. So are united the German Wiestling 
and the Scotch Weir ; so Egle and Beatty ; so Kerr and 
Orth ; so Orth and Reily ; so Kunkel and Rutherford ; so 
Buehler and McCormick ; so Ross and Haldeman ; so 
Haldeman and Cameron; so Gross and Criswell; so Spangler 
and Hamilton; so Bucher and Ayres; so Fahnestock and 
McKinley; and so, to refer to the pulpit of this church, 
the Scotch Robinson and the German Buehler. When I 
think of the great social and religious value, to Harrisburg 
of this union of the Scotch and Teutonic elements of its 
early population, I encourage the hope that it will be con- 
tinued in the future. And the social news of the city that 
comes to me from time to time leads me to the conclusion 
that the hope is quite certain of fulfillment. 

I have thus told you many reasons — and I could tell you 
as many more — why my affection for Harrisburg has not 
abated with absence and the lapse of time, and why it is a 
pleasure to return to the city, especially to take some part in 
such a celebration as you begin to-day: the celebration of 
the establishment a hundred years ago of this venerated 
church; the church of my family, the church my father and 
of my forefathers, the church that sprang from Paxtang, the 
church of my elder ancestry. And since we are looking 
backward to-day, it has occurred to me that it would be well 
if we were to begin at a point even earlier than a century 
ago, and call up before our minds a picture of the begin- 
nings of Presbyterianism in this part of the United States. 
Of course, I must be very brief and fragmentary in my 
treatment of a large historical subject; but brief and 



44 



Centennial Memorial. 



incomplete as I shall be, what I shall say may prove a 
not inappropriate introduction to the celebration of the 
week which this da}^ begins. 

The name of the church gives us a convenient order for 
the treatment of the subject I have to present: the English 
Presbyterian Congregation of Harrisburg. It is a Presby- 
terian congregation ; a congregation of that peculiar type of 
Presbyterianism known as English speaking, and the place 
in w T hich it has stood for a hundred years brings before us 
the fact that it belongs to the second generation of those 
English speaking Presbyterian churches that were planted 
in the Middle Colonies. 

When, on All Saints' day, in fifteen hundred and seven- 
teen, Martin Luther nailed on the door of his church in 
Wittenberg the theses on grace and indulgences which he 
was prepared to defend against the world, a step was taken 
which divided Western Christianity against itself. In the 
enthusiasm of the new movement, it seemed as if the 
churches of the Reformation must be as closely united, 
externally, as the Latin church of the Middle Ages had 
been. But events soon showed that the organizing, or 
Roman spirit, which had determined the external life of 
European Christianity since the pontificate of Gregory the 
Great, had given place to the Protestant, the critical and 
divisive spirit, which has marked the career of the modern 
church. This is not the time to discuss the question whether 
Christianity has gained most or lost most by the domination, 
during the last three centuries and a half, of the spirit of 
protest, of criticism and of dissent; whether or not the 
attainment of clearer views of truth, and of the internal 



Sermon of Rev. John DeWitt. 



45 



unity, of which we Protestants make so much, is an ade- 
quate compensation for the loss of that one fold with one 
shepherd, to which the Protestant world is so often invited 
to return. I believe that the compensation is more than 
adequate. But, to-day, I note simply the great historical 
fact that, with the first blow of Luther's hammer began the 
history of national churches and of modern denominational 
Christianity. This tendency to divide, supported by the 
relations of the Protestant churches to the civil govern- 
ments, revealed itself first in the memorable controversy 
between Luther and Zwingli, touching the presence of the 
body of Christ in the Sacrament of the Supper. That 
controversy resulted in setting over against each other the 
Lutheran and the Reformed, as the two great families of 
National Protestant Churches. The resources of diplomacy 
and of theological analysis were exhausted in the fruitless 
endeavor to unite them. Since the Conference of Marburg, 
each of the two great types of Protestantism has developed 
along lines distinct from those of the other's history. 

In dividing Protestant Europe between them, Lutheran- 
ism, broadly speaking, took Northern Germany and the 
Scandanavian countries. Its territories were contiguous, 
and it possessed, during the fight of Protestantism for life 
and for recognition on the map and in the politics of 
Europe, all the advantage that belongs to a compacted 
empire and to racial unity. The Reformed type of Protest- 
antism, the more radical and thorough-going type, pushed 
itself into those countries which lay nearest to Rome, or 
which had felt most keenly the evils of the Papacy. 
Reformed Protestantism was the more widely spread, and 



46 



Centennial Memorial. 



the less racially united. It appeared in South Germany, 
in German Switzerland and French Switzerland, in France, 
in Spain, in Italy and in Scotland. But for the fact that, 
for reasons personal to himself, the monarch of England 
took the lead in, and so largely limited the progress of the 
Reformation in England, it would have taken possession of 
South as it did of North Britain, and the modern religious 
history of the island would have been the history of a 
single national church. 

The Reformed Churches were not so closely related to the 
State as were the Lutheran ; and for this reason, as for others 
which I need not stop to mention, they required for their 
healthful development a form of government, both strong 
enough for the church's struggle with an adverse environ- 
ment and representative enough of the faithful who com- 
posed it. For such a government, our spiritual fathers 
repaired to the Scriptures which they had accepted as their 
rule of faith ; and they were convinced that they found its 
elements in the organization of the churches founded by 
the Apostles. But there was needed a genius, who could 
seize these elements and, employing them to form an actual 
church, could show to the Reformed Churches of Europe 
a living example of the revived Apostolic church organi- 
zation. Such a genius appeared in John Calvin, first 
among the exegetes, first among the theologians and one of 
the first statesmen of his age. It is among the wonders 
of the world that he organized, seemingly without difficulty 
or hesitation, both the theology and the polity which have 
distinguished the great family of Reformed Churches. The 
church of Christ in Geneva became the model of the Pres- 



Sermon of Rev. John DeWitt. 



47 



byterian Churches of the world. The characteristic traits of 
this church order are familiar to us all; its exaltation of the 
truth and of the preacher, its provision for the representa- 
tion of the people, its insistence on the church's autonomy, 
on the efficiency of its discipline, and on the subjection of 
a part to the whole. But we are not all so familiar with 
the fact that those who have given to the subject severe 
study, as historians and publicists, find it hard to resist 
the conclusion, to which our own historian Mr. Bancroft 
gives expression, when he assigns to Calvin's theology and 
polity a high if not the highest place among the causes of 
our system of general education and of our enjoyment of 
civil liberty and self-government. 

The Reformed theology and the Presbyterian order 
were eagerly accepted by the people of Scotland. They 
were made the national religion and church order against 
the enmity of the crown, and they were maintained 
against a succession of hostile monarchs. Of these no 
one was more persistently hostile than James the Sixth, 
afterward James the First of England. He tried the 
strength and temper of the Scottish character, and found 
that he could not bend it to his will. When, therefore, the 
Ulster plantations needed settlers, he invited the Scotch to 
furnish them; and the Scotch, accepting his invitation and 
becoming the Scotch-Irish, began at once to justify the boast 
of their King, that here at least w r as a people, unlike the 
English of the Pale, too vigorous to be absorbed or modified 
by the Irish Celts. There in Ireland our Scotch forefathers 
lived for a hundred years before the great emigrations to 
America began. The training of their Irish life was severe 



48 



Centennial Memorial. 



indeed. It robbed the Scotchmen of some of their most 
engaging traits; notably that gift for poetry which makes 
the Scotch ballad the most pathetic of popular songs. This 
gift seems to have died out during their stay in Ireland. 
But if the exile robbed the Scotch of this great gift, " their 
training in Ireland," as Mr. Bancroft has said, "kept the 
spirit of liberty and the readiness to resist unjust govern- 
ment as fresh in their hearts as though they had just been 
listening to the preachings of Knox or musing over the 
political creed of the Westminster Assembly"* 

It is a sad story, that of the persecutions and oppressions 
which at last drove them from their new home in Ulster, 
and across the sea. We can understand the persecutions 
in the days of the Stuarts, of Charles the First and Charles 
the Second and James the Second. But the oppressions of 
the reigns of Anne and the earlier Georges, after all that 
Ulster had done to make their reigns a possibility; after 
Deny and Enniskillen and the Battle of the Boyne ; these 
are hard to understand. Certainly, if ever a people pur- 
chased by patriotic self-sacrifice the right, I will not say to 
religious toleration, but to absolute religious liberty, our 
Presbyterian fathers of Ulster purchased it during the cam- 
paign of William of Orange against the followers and allies 
of the rejected James. Yet it was precisely in these latter 
reigns that the oppressions became intolerable and the great 
migrations to America took place. I shall not tell at length 
the outrageous story, but my subject requires me at least to 
say something. How can I speak adequately of the begin- 



*Hist. of the U. S., Vol. iii., p. 29. 



Sermon of Rev. John DeWitt. 



49 



nings of Presbyterianism in the Middle Colonies, unless I tell 
in brief what were the facts that compelled the Briggses and 
Brysons of Silver's Spring, that compelled the Flemings and 
Simontons and McCormicks and Wallaces of Hanover, the 
Rutherfords and Elders and Gilmors and Cowdens of 
Paxtang, theKerrs and Wilsons and Boyds and McNairs of 
Derry, to leave their Irish homes and clear the forests at 
distant out-posts of civilization in the province of Pennsyl- 
vania ? 

William the Third highly valued his Scotch-Irish sub- 
jects, and during his reign they enjoyed a liberty of religion 
to which they had not been accustomed. The act of 
toleration was faithfully executed and the policy of toler- 
ation was not changed. But after the accession of Anne, the 
execution of the act became tardy and unequal, and meas- 
ures were taken by the High Church party for its amend- 
ment. Such an amendment was secured in the sacramental 
" Test act," by which conscientious Presbyterians were effec- 
tively driven or excluded from all public positions of honor 
or trust. And there were other methods of persecution. 
" No sooner," writes Dr. Blackwood, " had Anne ascended 
the throne than the same intolerant High Church party that 
had formerly oppressed them began to renew their assaults. 
At one time the annoyances of the Presbyterians of Ulster 
arose from embarrassments about marriages. At another 
time they were assailed because their ministers obeyed their 
Presbyteries by preaching in vacant churches ; while the 
most absurd charges of disloyalty were urged against them 
in pamphlets and often made the subject of legal investiga- 



50 



Centennial Memorial. 



tion by magistrates." * At last in 1714, an act was passed 
to prevent the growth of schism, in which under penalty of 
three months imprisonment and disqualification as a teacher, 
every teacher of children was forbidden " to be willingly 
present at any conventicle of dissenters for religious wor- 
ship." The fifth year of the reign of the First George is 
marked by the passage of an act which gave back legal 
toleration to the Presbyterians in Ireland. But the relief 
came too late; and the effect was only to substitute the 
oppression of the wealthy land owner for the oppression 
of the Church, the Parliament and the Crown. 

To escape this prosecution the Ulster Presbyterians sailed 
in large numbers for America. " In Ireland," says Mr. Ban- 
croft, " the disfranchised Scotch Presbyterians who still drew 
their ideas of Christian government from the Westminister 
Confession began to believe that they were under no obli- 
gation to render obedience to Britain, and had all Ireland 
resembled them, it could not have been held in subjection. 
But what could be done by unorganized men constituting 
only about a tenth of the population, in the land in which 
they were but sojourners? They were willing to quit a soil 
which was endeared to them by no traditions ; and the 
American colonies opened their arms to receive them. They 
began to change their abode as soon as they felt oppression, 
and every successive period of discontent swelled the tide of 
emigrants." f We are told by another authority, that " year 
after year, from the second quarter of the eighteenth cen- 

*Introduction to Webster's History of the Presbyterian Church of 
United States. 
tHistory of the United States, Vol. Ill, pp. 28, 29. 



Sermon of Rev. John DeWitt. 



51 



tury, it is estimated that 12,000 people annually sailed for 
America from the north of Ireland. Such was the drain 
indeed that it was computed that in 1773, and the five 
preceding years, the north of Ireland lost by emigration to 
America, one-fourth of the trading cash and a like propor- 
tion of the manufacturing people." * 

Thus in the eighteenth century there flowed wave after 
wave of Presbyterian immigrants into America. They 
poured themselves over the whole Atlantic country south 
of New England and New York. There were two or three 
small colonies in New England ; but New Jersey, and Penn- 
sylvania, and Maryland, and Virginia, and the Carolinas 
received by far the largest share. They brought with them 
vivid and bitter recollections of the injustice of their treat- 
ment at the hands of Great Britain ; and therefore when 
the War of Independence was begun, they were unani- 
mously for the cause of the Colonies and against the mother 
country. We should never forget, or forget to acknowledge 
the great debt we all owe to the New England Colonies for 
the part they bore in the Revolutionary war. But New 
England would have been powerless without the Scotch 
Irish people, scattered, as the latter were, throughout the 
middle and the southern colonies, and as ready as the New 
Englanders to take up arms for independence; as ready 
indeed for war as their fathers had been to fight in order to 
ensure the safety of the Protestant William's throne. 

When the Scotch-Irish began their settlements in the mid- 
dle colonies, and particularly in the Commonwealth of Penn- 

*History of the Irish Presbyterian Church, by Rev. Thomas Hamil- 
ton, p. 133. 



52 



Centennial Memorial. 



sylvania, they stood in a relation to the civil government 
entirely different from that of the Episcopalians in Virginia, 
the Dutch -Reform eel and afterwards the Episcopalians in 
New York, or the Congregationalists in New England. The 
latter were legally related to the State, their church order 
was in some sense the established religion; "the standing 
order," as it was called in New England, "the religion of His 
Majesty's faithful subjects," as it was called in Virginia. Our 
fore-fathers' Presbyterian churches were voluntary societies 
in the eye of the law; and whenever a Royal Governor chose 
to do so, he was able to make the lives of the members of 
the Presbyterian churches, and of their ministers in partic- 
ular, exceedingly uncomfortable. In New York, the Royal 
Governor did all in his power to extirpate Presbyterianism. 
Francis Makemie and John Hampton, two of our earliest 
ministers, were imprisoned by Lord Cornbury; and this for 
the avowed purpose of putting down the pestilent heresy of 
Presbyterian dissent; and Makemie had already been made 
to suffer for the same reason in both Maryland and Virginia. 

Happily our ancestors in Pennsylvania, whatever else 
were their trials, escaped this particular mode of suffering. 
This church has among its most valued members those in 
whose veins runs the blood of ancestors who belonged to 
the Society of Friends. The rest of us may well remind 
ourselves at this time of the indebtedness of our Presby- 
terian fathers to that great souled and high minded follower 
of the Inward Light, William Penn ; who, in 1682, came to 
his province of Pennsylvania to begin what he called " his 
Holy Experiment" ; which " Holy Experiment" was a frame 
of government, a constitution, of which these were the two 



Sermon of Rev. John DeWitt. 



53 



distinguishing traits: first, that the people should govern, 
and second, that there should be liberty of conscience. 
Honor, everlasting honor, is due by the people of this church 
to the Commonwealth's great proprietor. This freedom of 
conscience, indeed, was one of the chief causes of the popu- 
larity of the province of Pennsylvania as a new home for 
the Scotch-Irish immigrants. They settled in the colony in 
great numbers. James Logan, William Penn's Secretary of 
his Province, said in reference to the movement as early as 
1725: "It looks as if Ireland were to send all her inhabi- 
tants hither; if they will continue to come they will make 
themselves proprietors of the province." Professor Maclos- 
kie of Princeton points out that largely as the result of this 
movement the population of the province rose from 20,000 
in 1701, to 250,000 in 1749. 

At once upon their settlement the immigrants began to 
organize congregations for the worship of God. The evi- 
dence is clear that the initiative was taken by the people 
themselves. They had fought too long and too hard to 
maintain in the land of their sojourn the ordinances of 
religion, not to make immediate provision for them in the 
new land of liberty. And so while they were felling the 
trees and turning the soil, they made every sacrifice that 
the} 7 and their children might enjoy the stated services 
of the house of God. What I wish to emphasize is the fact 
that they were never an irreligious people requiring evan- 
gelization. They were from the first a religious people, 
knowing the value of the Church of God. The organization 
of these early churches was not due to the ministers who 
ministered in them, so much as to the laymen to whom they 



54 



Centennial Memorial. 



ministered. This was true of almost every congregation 
from Philadelphia northward to the Irish Settlement at 
Easton, and from Philadelphia westward through the settle- 
ments of Chester and Lancaster (then including Dauphin), 
and Cumberland counties. 

It is true that their first ministers came from the mother 
country. But they did not come to evangelize an unevan- 
gelized people. They came to small communities, which 
were Christian from the beginning ; communities whose 
members knew the word of God and believed it, and had 
studied the great system of truth embodied in the West- 
minster symbols, and were moulded by it. In this respect, 
the Scotch-Irish settlements were precisely like the early 
settlements on Massachusetts Bay and in the Hartford 
and New Haven colonies. I dwell on this fact for the 
reason that in the histories of Presbyterianism in America 
thus far written, too much relatively has been assigned to 
the ministry and too little to the strong, God-fearing men 
and women of the laity. The life of these churches at the 
beginning was in this respect precisely like their subsequent 
careers. What would the later history of this church have 
been but for the profound religious life, and the continuous 
religious activity of the laity — the godly women and God- 
fearing men ; but for the church in the household, the 
training of the children by parents, and the family Bible, 
and the family prayers? So it was at the organization of 
our congregations in all the province. 

Closely connected with the churches they founded were 
the parochial schools. I am sure that I need take no time to 
show you that the Calvinistic theology must lead, as in fact 



Sermon of Rev. John DeWitt. 



55 



it always has led, to the establishment of a system of gen- 
eral education. A people, fed on the religious truths of 
that highly organized and profound system, will always see 
to it, as a matter of the first importance, that their children 
are disciplined and c allured far more carfully than them- 
selves. We all know how true this is to-day. It was just 
as true at the beginning. Our forefathers planted the church 
and the school side by side. " With them," as has well been 
said, " religion and education were inseparable ; no religion 
without the training of the intelligence ; no education divorced 
from piety. The school was always planted near the church, 
the schoolmaster was often the pastor, often a candidate for 
the ministry, often one of the pillars of the church."* So Mr. 
Chambers, writing of the Scotch-Irish settlers in the Cumber- 
land Valley, says : " Simultaneously with the organization of 
congregations was the establishment of school houses in every 
neighborhood. In these schools were taught the rudiments 
of education, of which a part was generally obtained at home. 
The Bible was the standard daily reader, and the Shorter 
Catechism was to be recited and heard by all in the school 
as a standard exercise on every Saturday morning." 

But they were not content with this general system of 
education. They had scarcely been settled in their new 
homes when they began to feel that the ministry, and the 
members of the other learned professions, must be provided 
out of their own families. The Scotch Irish immigration 
and settlement took place about one hundred years later 
than the settlement of Massachusetts. The Scotch Irish 
were without the advantage of a charter of their own, 

* Prof. G. Macloskie : The Scotch-Irish and Education. 



56 



Centennial Memorial. 



such as was possessed by the inhabitants of Massachusetts. 
But they began at once individually and through their 
church courts, to make provision for the higher education. 
So William Tennent established the Log College on the 
Neshaminy, that was merged in Princeton College in 1746. 
So, as early as 1739, John Thompson proposed to the Pres- 
bytery of Donegal — the Presbytery to which Paxtang and 
Derry and Hanover churches belonged — the erection of a 
school to be placed under the care of the Synod, and the 
Synod in the same year approved the plan ; and thus arose 
the school at New London in this State. So arose the Acad- 
emy in Philadelphia, with Francis Allison as Principal, out 
of which issued the great University of Pennsylvania. So 
was founded the celebrated school of Samuel Finley at Not- 
tingham, and the school of Samuel Blair at Fagg's Manor. 
It was precisely these schools and others like them that 
made the middle colonies independent at the war of Inde- 
pendence, and enabled them to come to the formation of 
the Federal and State constitutions, with culture and dis- 
cipline adequate to the great work.* 

As to the home life of these early Presbyterians, it must 
be remembered that they came to subdue to the use of man 
a section of the country which, if rich and fruitful, was dif- 
ficult to conquer. Moreover they had to forge and frame 
their instruments of conquest. The modern era of labor- 
saving machinery was not to be ushered in for a century. 
When Thomas McCormick, in 1745, took up one hundred 
acres of land in Hanover township of this county, he did 
not have the advantage in reaping his crops, of the great 



* See Appendix, Note I. 



Sermon of Rev. John DeWitt. 



57 



" harvester," which his great grandson Cyrus Hall McCor- 
mick invented almost ninety years later. Our forefathers 
rose early and toiled hard. Theirs was not the generation 
that formed towns and cities. It was not the first, but the 
second John Harris, who founded Harrisburg. The first 
generation was a generation of farmers. The} 7 settled " near 
the springs and the brooks and in the valleys." They 
lived in log cabins, of two rooms. They found comfort 
on hard settees and benches. They had few dishes, and 
few spoons, even of pewter; and they had to be content 
often with cups and pitchers of gourds. Slowly the con- 
ditions changed ; and all the more slowly because Great 
Britain's colonial policy was as harsh and tyrannical as 
possible. For instead of fostering, Great Britain did all 
that could be done to prevent the growth of manufactures 
in her possessions. But hard as the life was the Scotch 
Irish farmers were sustained by the great truths of their 
holy religion, and by that strong racial character that has 
made the Scotch the most persistent of European peoples. 
In that early period when they were called to conquer 
nature, during which, as a great American divine has 
pointed out, there was in the conditions of their lives great 
danger of a lapse into barbarism, they were held to a high 
ideal of life by their theology and their church life. They 
were lifted out of their hardships by their study of the Bible 
and their common and their private prayers to God. 

The Scotch-Irish Presbyterian settlers of this part of the 
country have more than once been attacked by writers of 
our own State for their treatment of the red Indians, and 
the "Uprising of the Paxtang Boys," and the summary ven- 



58 



Centennial Memorial. 



geance taken by them at Conestoga and at Lancaster upon 
those whom the provincial government would not punish, 
has been made the text of many a discourse against the 
cruelty of our ancestors. That wrongs have been perpe- 
trated against individuals among the Red men by individ- 
uals in every frontier settlement of the country there is no 
good reason to doubt. To say that among the Scotch-Irish 
Presbyterian settlers were " men of blood," is only to say 
that they were like any other community. But that as com- 
munities they wronged the Indians there is no shadow of 
evidence. We may lay it down as a truth based upon a 
law of God, that no people could ever have had a title to 
this fruitful valley as a hunting ground. At the beginning, 
God gave man the Garden and placed him there " to dress 
it and to keep it." And we may be sure that it is God's will 
that Esau, the mere hunter, shall always go down before 
the laborious Jacob, the worker in the fields, the plain man 
dwelling in tents. The laborious Scotch-Irishman found 
no difficulty in dwelling side by side with the laborious 
German man. Together and in peace in this very county 
they have turned the sod of the valley and the uplands, 
and sowed and reaped the harvests. 

But the hunter, the Red Indian, who would not labor 
and who contemplated with envy the growing wealth of the 
white man, mourned the loss of the land as mere "hunting 
grounds ; " and along the frontiers of the country killed or 
carried off to bondage more bitter than death hundreds of 
families. It is no wonder, as the historian Parkman says, 
that the frontier people of Pennsylvania "were goaded to 
desperation by long-continued suffering." Day after day 



Sermon of Rev. John DeWitt. 



59 



they lived in danger from the treachery and the cruelty of 
the savages whom no kindness could make trustworthy 
friends, and whom no efforts succeeded in civilizing. We, 
who remember the civil war, know how easily, at so late a 
date as eighteen hundred and sixty-one, the most violent 
of passions were enkindled. What wonder that they were 
aroused in the days of our forefathers, when it was the 
custom because it was an absolute necessity of John Elder's 
congregation, the minister included, to worship God in 
Paxtang church under arms.* And when Lazarus Stewart 
was told that the Indian settlement at Conestoga, professedly 
friendly to the whites, was treacherously harboring and 
entertaining an Indian known to have murdered a white 
man's family, what wonder that at the time when the con- 
spiracy of Pontiac was threatening every English settlement 
on the frontier, a company was raised to inflict the punish- 
ment, which a neglectful government refused to inflict? 
Whatever may be said of this particular incident, this I 
think is true ; that no English speaking population in the 
country has ever dealt more fairly as between the Indian and 
themselves than the Scotch-Irish citizens of Pennsylvania ; 
and no people certainly were subject to greater provocations. 

The mother churches of this part of the country were 
planted between the close of the first quarter and the close 
of the first half of the century. Paxtang, the mother of this 
church, being founded about 1732. It ought to be said that 
the period was not one in which the religious life was warm 
and glowing. In this respect, it was a period of deca- 
dence. There was a good deal of mere formality ; and 



*Parkman's Conspiracy of Pontiac, Vol. II., p. 119, et seq. 



60 



Centennial Memorial. 



there was a strong disposition to distrust religious experi- 
ences. This disposition was nowhere stronger than in this 
part of the country. But the early Presbyterian churches 
of the Middle Colonies had scarcely been planted when, in 
both England and America, there occurred the Great Evan- 
gelical Revival. *In Great Britain it infused new life into 
the churches of England and Scotland and Ireland. In 
America its influence was felt from Massachusetts to Geor- 
gia. It was marked by the earnest preaching of great 
preachers. The sermons of Edwards in New England of 
the Tennents in the Middle Colonies, and of Davies in Vir- 
ginia remain to us and serve to show the type of preaching 
common at the time. Some of its methods were blame- 
worthy, and some of its evils were serious; but the inci- 
dental evils were spots upon the sun. It radiated every- 
where the warmth and the light the churches needed for 
a more vigorous life. The Scotch-Irish churches of this 
section fought against its methods. The Rev. John Elder, 
strong, honest, believing in the Bible and in the theology 
of his church, had no confidence in it. But, its influ- 
ence was felt in all the congregations, and in most of the 
houses of the Valley. Even before the War of the Revo- 
lution it had wrought a great change in the life of the 
churches and of the people. And when the hardships of 
that terrible struggle had brought the people nearer to God, 
the more genial religious life which had been wrought by 
the Spirit of God during the great evangelical movement' 
was characteristic of the homes and the churches of our 



*Here, as in one or two other places, I quote from my address before 
the Presbyterian Historical Society on the First General Assembly. 



Sermon of Rev. John DeWitt. 



61 



fathers. Meanwhile, the country about Harrisburg had been 
more thickly settled, and the son of the first settler had 
founded the town. Thus, in the more genial atmosphere of 
the great revival, this church was founded one hundred 
years ago. 

1 do not know how better to conclude this brief account 
of the conditions that immediately ante-dated the birth of 
this church, than to urge upon you the duty of keeping 
green the memory of your godly ancestry, that you may 
intelligently thank God for the blessings he has given to 
you, in preparing the way for this church by their faithful 
and laborious and religious lives. The sons and daughters 
of this congregation owe a large debt not only to their 
parents and grandparents who for three generations have 
been members of this church, but also, and this a debt 
quite as large, to those more remote ancestors, who while 
they spun the wool and linen and plowed the soil, read 
the Bible, and taught the catechism, and honored the Sab- 
bath, and built Hanover and Derry and Paxtang churches, 
and established schools, and laid the foundations of a great 
Christian State. If Paul could glory in his people to whom 
belonged the covenants and the giving of the law and the 
promises, you may thank God for those from whom you 
are descended. But while we thank God for them, let us 
remember that in leaving to us a great inheritance they 
have left to us great duties, also. The family religion 
which was theirs it is ours to maintain ; the truth which 
made them strong it is for us to guard ; the public schools 
of which they were the founders here, it is our sacred mission 
to defend against all open and concealed enemies; the Bible 



62 



Centennial Memorial. 



which made them strong and courageous and hopeful in 
life and in death, it is our duty to make our rule of faith 
and life ; and to the God to whose service they gave them- 
selves — the God of our fathers — it is our privilege at this 
time to dedicate anew all our powers and possessions in an 
everlasting covenant. 

At the close of Dr. De Witt's address, the Rev. Thomas H. 
Robinson, D. D., for thirty years pastor of this church, 
offered prayer. The minister announced hymn No. 730 
which the congregation, having risen, sang with spirit. 

See the ransom'd millions stand, 
Palms of conquest in their hand ; 
This before the throne their strain, 
"Hell is vanquished ; death is slain ; 
Blessing, honor, glory, might, 
Are the conqueror's native right ; 
Thrones and powers before him fall, 
Lamb of God and Lord of all ! " 

Hasten, Lord, the promised hour ; 
Come in glory and in power ; 
Still thy foes are unsubdued ; 
Nature sighs to be renew'd ; 
Time has nearly reach'd its sum ; 
All things with the bride say " Come ! " 
Jesus ! whom all worlds adore, 
Come, and reign for evermore ! 

After the Benediction had been pronounced by the Rev. 
Dr. John DeWitt, Smart's March in D was rendered as an 
organ postlude, and the audience dispersed with the con- 
viction that Centennial Week had been successfully inau- 
gurated, and would be a most notable week in the history 
of the church. 



SUNDAY EVENING, 

February the 11th, 189 h at 6 o'clock. 



Seventy-Eighth Anniversary of the Sunday-School, 
Mr. Samuel J. M. McCarrell, Superintendent, presiding. 
A large audience, filling every available space in pew, 
aisle, vestibule and gallery, gathered to celebrate the 
Seventy-eighth anniversary of the Sunday-school. Many 
persons were unable to enter the church. The Primary 
department occupied the front seats of the middle block of 
pews, the Intermediate department were in the block of 
pews|to the right of the Superintendent, while the Senior 
department were in the block to the left of the Superinten- 
dent, and in the middle block, back of the Primary depart- 
ment. Those not connected with the Sunday-school found 
seats or standing room as best they could. The decorations 
of the church were the same as those of the morning. 

The services were opened promptly at 6 o'clock with the 
organ prelude, Silas's " March in F.," followed by an 
anthem, " I was glad when they said unto me, let us go 
into the house of the Lord," sung by the choir of the Senior 
department. This choir was composed of about fifteen of 
the best voices in the Senior department, under the direc- 
tion of Mrs. John C. Harvey. Mrs. Harvey was most 
devoted and painstaking in training them for the accurate 
rendering of the solo and chorus parts in the anthems of 
the evening. 



64 



Centennial Memorial. 



The Superintendent. The Rev. William P. Patterson, 
Pastor of the Olivet Presbyterian church, will offer the invo- 
cation, and at its close will lead the congregation in repeat- 
ing the Lord's prayer. 

The congregation then united in singing the first and 
third stanzas of No. 30 in Winnowed Soogs, the hymn 
book in use in the Senior department: 

True hearted, whole hearted, faithful and loyal, 
King of our lives ; by thy grace we will be ; 
Under the standard exalted and royal, 
Strong in thy strength we will battle for thee. 

Chorus. 

Peal out the watch word ! silence it never ! 
Song of our spirits rejoicing and free ; 
Peal out the watch word ! loyal forever, 
King of our lives, by thy grace we will be. 

True hearted, whole hearted, Saviour all-glorious ! 
Take thy great power, and reign there alone, 
Over our wills and affections victorious, 
Freely surrendered and wholly thine own — Cho. 

Mr. Samuel C. Miller, Secretary of the Senior department, 
read the report of the Primary department. This report 
showed that there were enrolled during the year 1893 five 
officers and three hundred and nine scholars, a total of three 
hundred and fourteen. That the offerings during the same 
period amounted to $95.36, which sum was appropriated to 
the support of the school, and to missionary and benevo- 
lent causes. 

Seven scholars have been present every Sabbath : May 
Landis, Katie Wolford, Sarah McCord, Mabel Swanberry, 



Exercises of Primary Department. 



65 



Thomas McCord, Malcolm Dwyer, Freddie Ehrisman. One 
scholar has been present every Sabbath but one, Kenneth 
Dwyer. Four scholars have been present every Sabbath 
but two : Ellen Boyd, Minnie Wolford, Eva Smith, Helen 
Weidman. 

The Superintendent. We will now be glad to listen 
to the exercises of the Primary department. 

The children of this department, with Mr. George R. 
Fleming leading, sang : 

" Another Year." 

Another year we've trod the way 

That leads to joy and heaven, 
Then join with us and sing to-day 

Of blessings freely given. 

Chorus. 

Singing, singing, 

As the years go rolling by, 
Working, striving, 

For a home on high. 

Each trusting heart with pleasure rife 

Each eye with hope is gleaming, 
While sweetly o'er the path of life 

The Saviour's smile is beaming.— Clio. 

'Mid pastures green at last we'll rest 

Beside the flowing river, 
And with the happy spirits blest 

We'll dwell in peace forever. — Clio. 

Mrs. Gilbert M. McCauley, the Superintendent of the 
department, then led the children in repeating the 100th 
Psalm, after which they sang : 



66 



Centennial Memorial. 



Little Workers. 

Early in the morning 

When the glorious sun, 
All the earth adorning, 

Has its work begun. 
We will rise with gladness 

And a song of Joy, 
For each happy moment 

Brings us sweet employ. 

Chorus. 
Working for the Master, 

In his garden fair, 
For he loves to see us, 

Working there. 

Deeds of love and honor 

Will the Father bless, 
Deeds of joy and patience, 

And of truthfulness ! 
All will grow together 

Till the reaper come, 
Then he'll pluck them gladly 

For his harvest home. — Cho. 

Bright as heav'nly sunshine 

Is the Father's smile ; 
When the shades of even 

Bid us rest awhile. 
Let us listen softly, 

We may hear him say : 
"Well done, little workers, 

Faithful all the day."— Cho. 



The part the little folks take in the anniversary is always 
listened to with interest and delight. 



Address by Mr. George E. Sterry. 



67 



The choir of the Senior department followed with the 
anthem, " Lord, Thy Mercy Streameth." 

The Superintendent. Dr. DeWitt, who is noted upon our 
programme for an address at this point in our exercises, is 
unable to be with us, because of the desire of Dr. Chambers, 
of the Pine Street Church, that he should occupy his pulpit 
this evening. He has, however, furnished a substitute in 
the person of Mr. George E. Sterry, for the past twenty-five 
years superintendent of Hope Chapel Sunday-school, a mis- 
sion of the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian church, New York 
city, in which he is an elder. Mr. Sterry has had knowl- 
edge of this school in the past. Some years ago he came 
here upon a visit, and after repeating his visit, I cannot tell 
how many times, succeeded in capturing and carrying away 
with him a young lady who was then a scholar in this 
school. I am sure that he ought to have a very high re- 
gard for the school, becausb this young lady, to whom I 
have just referred, has made him a most excellent wife. On 
this occasion we have captured Mr. Sterry, and I know that 
you will be greatly gratified to hear from him at this time. 

Mr. Sterry spoke substantially as follows, his address 
being listened to with rapt attention by old and young: 

Mr. George E. Sterry's Address. 

I am going to use small words so that the small folks can 
understand me, as I am most anxious that they should. 
Your superintendent has said that I have been for twenty- 
five years superintendent of the Hope Chapel Mission school 
in New York. About twenty-five years ago a little com- 
pany of us went over to the east side in New York city and 



68 



Centennial Memorial. 



established a Sunday-school which we have carried on ever 
since. It has been the means of much blessing to many 
people. I could tell you many stories which would show 
you how much good has been done. More than three hun- 
dred young people have united with the church as a result 
of this mission work. One boy entered our Sunday-school 
ten years ago. He was at that time fifteen years old. He 
was not very bright, but he had one good point, he was . 
willing to come to Sunday-school. There is always hope 
for a boy who will attend Sunday-school. Now he is super- 
intendent of a Sunday-school over in Brooklyn and is an 
elder in the church. 

A few Sundays ago he asked the children what was the 
forbidden fruit — you know we had a lesson recently about 
the forbidden fruit — and they all said it was the peach. 
Probably that was because I was over there a little while 
before and told them a story of a forbidden peach. If you 
will listen I will tell it to you. On one occasion a mother 
put a beautiful peach on an upper shelf in the cupboard, 
and as she was leaving the house to go on an errand, 
she told John and Mary, her children, that they must not 
touch that peach. After she was gone, John said to Mary, 
" I would like to see that peach." Mary replied, " Mother 
said you must not touch it." John said, " I will not touch 
it, I just want to look at it." So he drew a chair to the 
side of the cupboard and stood upon it, but he could 
not see or reach the peach. After a little while he tried 
again, putting a book upon the chair, but without success. 
Then another book and another trial, but still he could not 
reach the peach. Then a third book and a third trial. 



Address by Mr. George E. Sterry. 



69 



This time he was able to reach the peach. As he held it, 
it looked so good he thought he would taste it. Just as 
he bit into it his mother opened the door, and he was 
caught in the very act. And what was more, the peach, 
instead of being a nice, ripe peach, was a wax peach, in 
which his teeth stuck so that he could neither open nor 
shut his mouth. He stood there guilty before his mother. 
What a foolish thing for a boy to disobey his parents. 

Twenty years ago one of our girls brought fifteen new 
scholars into the Sunday-school in a very short time. She 
afterwards gave her heart to Christ, united with the church, 
and is now the wife of a Christian gentleman who is a 
lawyer and an elder in the church. He also was a scholar 
in the school at one time. You thus see, my dear children, 
that the Sunday-school is a great blessing to those who 
attend, and I hope that this school will be the means of 
leading many of you to give your hearts to Jesus Christ. 

I will close what I have to say with the story of an 
English Lord who offered to the people round about his 
country residence to pay all their debts. He published it 
everywhere in the neighborhood that between 10 and 12 
o'clock on a certain day he would pay the debts of any 
one who came to him and asked him to do so. When the 
time came many curious people gathered about his office 
wondering what it all meant, but no one ventured to go 
in and ask him to pay their debts. At last an old man 
and his wife came up, and as they were going in some one 
said " You don't think he will pay your debts, do you?" 
And he said, " Yes, certainly I do, for he said he would." 
They went in and gave him a list of all that they owed, 



70 



Centennial Memorial. 



and he drew his check upon the bank for the whole 
amount. They were the only ones whose debts were paid 
because they were the only ones who had faith to take their 
lord at his word. How foolish it w r as for those who stood 
about the office not to believe their lord and ask him to do 
what he promised to do! Our Lord Jesus has promised to 
pay all our debts, if we will but ask him. Let us all ask 
him to pay the debt of sin w T hich w T e owe, and so save us 
from eternal death. 

Mr. Miller read the report of the Intermediate depart- 
ment. This department had on its roll during the year 1893 
seven officers, twenty-eight teachers, and two hundred and 
sixty-eight scholars, a total enrollment of three hundred 
and three. 

The contributions of the department during the year 
amounted to $1,065.98, which were given to various mis- 
sionary and benevolent causes. 

The Superintendent, Mrs. David Fleming and one teacher, 
Miss Sarah C. Cowden, were present every Sabbath during 
the year. Eighteen scholars were present every Sabbath: 
Gertie G. Carnes, Rhoda M. Bell, Jenny Brookens, Minnie 
E. Snoddy, Carrie Speise, Bessie Stephens, Laura McCord, 
Alice E. Gingher, Blaine Fry, David Wingeard, Willie Rein- 
del, John E. Swanberry, Milton W. Swanberry, M. Frank 
Bishop, Joseph Hogentogler, Charley Taylor, Frank Dwyer, 
John Dwyer. 

Eleven scholars were absent one Sunday : Clarence P. 
McCoy, Harry Bradigan, Boyd E. Morrow, Frank Kittner, 
Robert Ehrisman, Cora W. Anderson, Annie Malseed, Viola 
Bell, A. Mabel Bishop, Mabel V. Chester, Cora E. Shertzer. 



Exercises of Intermediate Department. 



71 



Seven scholars were absent two Sabbaths : Annie Spicer, 
Mary Arnold, Irene S. Loudenslager, Bertha M. Meredith, 
Mary E. Wager, Edward G. Hershman, Ronald Harvie. 

The Superintendent. We will now be interested in at- 
tending to some exercises by the Intermediate department- 

The Intermediate department, with Mr. Fleming leading, 
sang: 

Come Sing with Glad Voices. 
Come children, and sing with glad voices, 

The praises of Jesus our king ! 
The world in his coming rejoices, 

And we will adore him and sing ! 

Choms. 

We'll sing of the Saviour who loves us, 

And carol with gladness our lay, 
We'll sing of the little child Jesus, 

And praise him, and praise him to-day. 

O dearly we love the sweet story 

Which comes thro' the centuries long, 
Of the shepherds beholding his glory, 

And hearing the wonderful song ! — Clio. 

The wise men who follow'd the leading 

Of Bethlehem's beautiful star, • 
Were guided to Him they were seeking 

O'er mountain and river afar ! — Cho. 

O could we but kneel at that manger, 

And lay our best offerings there, 
How gladly we'd hail the sweet Stranger, 

With hearts full of worship and pray'r.— Cho. 

Mrs. David Fleming, Superintendent of the Intermediate 
department, led her school in the following responsive ser- 
vice: 



72 



Centennial Memorial. 



God the Ruler. 
Supt. — Who rules all worlds? 
School. — God rules all worlds. 
Supt. — Whom does God rule in heaven ? 
School. — God rules all spirits in heaven. 
Supt. — Whom does God rule on earth ? 
School. — God rules all people. 
Supt. — What does God give us to obey? 
School. — God gives us good laws to obey. 
Supt. — What is God's law about love and worship? 
School. — We must love and worship the one God. 
Supt. — What is God's law about idols? 
School. — We must not worship idols. 
Supt. — What is God's law about the Sabbath? 
School. — We must remember the Sabbath day to keep it 
holy. 

Supt— What is God's law about our father and mother? 

School. — We must honor our father and mother. 

Supt. — What is God's law about stealing? 

School. — We must not steal. 

Supt. — What is God's law about lying? 

School. — We must not lie. 

Supt. — What is God's great law? 

School. — We must love God and one another: God is the 
ruler. 

Obedience. 
Supt. — Why should we obey God? 

School. — We should obey God, because He is our creator; 
He is wise; His laws are holy, just and good, and He 
loves us. 



Exercises of Intermediate Department. 



73 



Supt. — What does God want us to be? 
School. — God wants us to be good and happy like himself. 
Supt. — Is it a little sin to disobey God? 
School. — If we disobey God, we sin greatly. 
Supt. — "Where cannot we go if we continue to disobey 
God? 

School. — We cannot enter heaven. 

Supt. — Whom can we see when we talk with them? 

School. — Our parents and friends. 

Supt. — Whom can we not see when we talk with Him? 

School. — We cannot see God, but we can talk to Him ; He 
sees us, and knows all we think and hears all we say ; when 
we talk to God we pray. 

Supt. — What must we ask God to do for us? 

School. — We must ask Him to forgive us our sins, to help 
us to be good, to give us the things we need. 

Supt — For whom must we pray? 

School. — We must pray for our parents and friends; for 
our teachers and schoolmates, and for the poor, sick, ignor- 
ant and wicked ? 

Supt — When must we pray? 

School. — We must pray every day — at home and away 
from home, and in the house of God. 
Supt. — What can you say about God ? 
School. — God hears and answers prayer. 

Worship. 

Supt. — Where are the angels? And what do they do? 
School. — The angels are in heaven ; they bow before God 
and worship Him. 



74 



Centennial Memorial. 



Supt. — What is a church? 

School — A church is God's house; people go into it, sit 
still and think about God : they should worship Him as the 
angels do in heaven, should listen and learn from God's 
servant as he preaches God's truth. God is a spirit, and we 
must worship Him in spirit. 

Jesus Christ the Lamb of God. 

Supt. — When was the temple of God in Jerusalem built? 
School. — Long before Jesus came from heaven to earth. 
Supt. — What was a table in the temple called ? 
School. — The altar. 
Supt. — What was the altar for? 

School. — To offer sacrifices upon. A man brought a lamb 
to the priest ; he laid the lamb by the altar, as God had told 
him to do. 

Supt. — About whom did the lamb help the man to under- 
stand ? 

School. — Helped him to understand about the Christ. 

Supt. — When the man brought the lamb from his home ? 
what did he remember about the Christ? 

School. — He remembered that the Christ would come from 
heaven to earth. 

Supt. — What should we do if we would live forever in 
heaven? 

School. — We must repent of sin, love, obey and serve 
God. 

Supt. — Because Jesus Christ died for us, what is He 
called? 

School. — The Lamb of God. 



Exercises of Intermediate Department. 



75 



Glory to God on high, 
Let praises fill the sky ! 

Praise ye his name. 
Angels His name adore, 
Who all our sorrows bore, 
And saints cry evermore, 

''Worthy the Lamb?" 

At the close of the responsive service this department 
sang : 

Lift up Thy Voice. 

Lift up Thy voice with strength, O Zion that bringeth good tidings, 
Lift up, lift up thy voice with strength, for God, the Lord is here, 

The fullness of the earth and the people are the Lord's, 
And ev'rywhere o'er sea and land, His goodness doth appear. 

Befrain. 

Lift up, lift up thy voice, and cry aloud, O Zion ! 
Arise and shine, let all rejoice for God the Lord is here. 

Lift up, be not afraid, behold your God, O Judah, 

The Lord shall come, His arm shall rule with power from above, 

He calls the stars by name by the greatness of His might, 
He giveth power to the faint ; behold his name is Love ! — fief. 

O wait upon the Lord, and ye shall not be weary ; 
The youths shall faint, the young men fall who know not God, the 
Lord, 

All nations are as nothing before the Lord of Hosts, 

But we are all His people, He sustains us by His word. — fief. 

All of the exercises of the Intermediate department made 
a marked impression upon the audience and the school was 
justly praised. 

Mr. McCarrell announced verses one and three of hymn 
No. 48, in Winnowed Songs, and the audience, having 
risen, joined heartily in the singing. 



76 



Centennial Memorial. 



Joy bells ringing, children singing, 
Fill the air with music sweet ; 
Joyful measure, guileless pleasure, 
Make the chain of song complete. 

Chorus. 

Joy bells ! joy bells ! never, never cease your singing ; 
Children ! children ! never, never cease your singing ; 
List, list the song that swells. Joy bells ! Joy bells ! 

Earth seems brighter, hearts grow lighter, 
As the tuneful melody 
Charms our sadness into gladness, 
Pealing, pealing, joyfully.— Clio. 

The Superintendent. It is a rare pleasure to have with 
us him who for thirty years was the Pastor of this church, 
and who by his active interest in everything relating to the 
welfare of the school, contributed largely to making the 
school what it is to-day. I am sure he is glad to be with 
us, and I know you will be more than glad to hear him. 
Dr. Robinson has been with us on so many anniversaries 
that a formal introduction is unnecessary. He will now 
address us. 

Rev. Dr. Thomas H. Robinson's Address. 

This is the seventy-eighth anniversary of the Sunday- 
school. When people are seventy-eight years of age they 
look old. This school does not look older than when I 
came to it forty years ago, probably not any older than 
when it was born in a little frame house down on Market 
street, seventy-eight years ago. What will it be when it is 
one hundred years old, as this church is to-day? If it keeps 
on growing as it has grown during the last few years, then 



Address by Rev. Dr. Thomas H. Robinson. 77 

this room will not be large enough to hold it all. Not 
every one that looks old, however, is old. Old people can 
keep young just as schools keep young, even though they 
cannot keep young in appearance. We have here to-night 
a lady * who was a member of this school in very early 
days. She was not one of the first scholars, but she joined 
the school when it was not more than four or five years 
old. She remembers very well how the school looked and 
what it was then. It was a very small affair to what it is 
now. Though she is now more than eighty years old, yet 
she is as young in heart as any one. 

How shall we keep young ? That is a very important 
question. The school keeps young by bringing new 
scholars into it, " new blood," as they say in other organiza- 
tions. We keep young by keeping the heart young, and 
the heart is kept young by bringing new affections and sym- 
pathy and interests into it. The heart is kept young by love. 
It may be that the day will come when I will need a cane 
to walk with, but I do not mean that the day shall come 
when my heart grows old. I hope we will all keep young 
in the same way by loving God and loving good. We can 
keep ourselves young and bright though we may live to be 
very old. 

Mr. Miller read the report of the Senior department. The 
number enrolled in this department during the year 1893 
was thirteen officers, sixty teachers and five hundred and 
ninety-nine scholars, a total enrollment of six hundred and 

*Mrs. Harriet J. Agnew, daughter of Dr. Samuel Agnew, an elder 
in this church from 1820 to 1835, and the widow of the late Rev. John 
R. Agnew, of Greencastle, Pa. 



78 



Centennial Memorial. 



seventy-two. The contributions for the year were $1,077.64, 
which sum was used for the support of the school and for 
benevolent and missionary purposes. 

Three teachers were present every Sunday in the year, 
Mr. George W. Boyd, Mr. Peter K. Sprenkel and Mr. Sharon 
Stephens. 

Twenty -five scholars were present every Sunday : Bertha 
Unger, Carrie McCord, Annie C. Wager, Carrie P. Michael, 
Bella Jones, Carrie Tippett, Bessie Ehrisman, Bertha Tippett, 
Maud Tippett, Harry Zeiter, George Deisroth, Charles W. 
Hartwick, Daniel Crutchley, Edward Hogentogler, William 
H. Shindler, William Taylor, Luther R. Kennedy, George 
Ehrisman, Harry Hilton, Frederick H. Stephens, Mrs. 
Samuel Fortney, William Steinmeier, C. Ross Colestock, 
Albert Metzgar, Mrs. Samuel Briggans. 

Seven scholars were present every Sunday but one : Bessie 
L. Eckenroth, Lydia Minning, Ira Bishop, Charles Fry, 
John Kelker, Harvey M. Taylor, William McCord. Four 
scholars were present every Sunday but two : Richard M. 
Morrow, William Hoke, Lewis H. Carpenter, John Arnold. 

Mr. McCarrell, while all were standing, read responsively 
with the school, the scripture lesson printed on the pro- 
gramme as followeth : 

Scripture Lesson. 

Supt. — Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set 
on a hill cannot be hid. 

School. — Neither do men light a candle, and put it under 
a bushel, but on a candlestick ; it giveth light unto all that 
are in the house. 



Exercises of Senior Department 79 

Supt. — Let your light so shine before men that they may 
see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in 
heaven. 

School. — Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, 
where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break 
through and steal : 

Supt. — But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, 
where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where 
thieves do not break through nor steal : 

School. — For where your treasure is, there will your heart 
be also. 

Supt. — Ask, and it shall be given you ; seek, and ye shall 
find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 

School. — For every one that asketh receiveth ; and he that 
seeketh findeth ; and to him that knocketh it shall be 
opened. 

The choir of the senior department sang the anthem, 
" Thee Will We Worship." Mr. Miller read the reports of 
the Chinese department and of Calvary Chapel school, and 
the summary of all the reports. These were as follow : In 
the Chinese department were enrolled during 1893, one 
officer, eleven teachers, and thirteen scholars ; total, twenty- 
five. The contributions amounted to $36.93, given to 
benevolent causes. The enrollment of Calvary Chapel 
school during 1893 was six officers, nineteen teachers, and 
four hundred and twenty-six scholars, a total enrollment of 
four hundred and fifty-one. The contributions amounted 
to $255.34, given to church and benevolent causes. 

The summary of the reports showed that during the year 
here were enrolled in the church school, deducting dupli- 



80 



Centennial Memorial. 



cates on account of transfers from one department to 
another, and in Calvary Chapel school, thirty-one officers, 
one hundred and seventeen teachers, and one thousand five 
hundred and twenty-two scholars ; a total of one thousand 
six hundred and seventy; and that the contributions 
amounted to $2,531.25. 

After the senior choir sang " Rest for the Weary," Mr. 
McCarrell said : " No session of the Sunday-school is 
entirely complete without the presence of the pastor, and 
no Sunday-school anniversary programme would be properly 
made up which did not provide for an address by the 
pastor, and I know that you will now be very glad to hear 
from Dr. Stewart. 

The Pastor's Address. 
T am reminded to-night that though I have been pastor 
of this church something over nine years, yet this is the 
tenth anniversary of the Sunday-school which has occurred 
during my pastorate. This is the one hundredth anniver- 
sary of the church. There is not very much difference, for 
you know one hundred is only " nothing " more than ten. 
The fact that I have been present at ten such gatherings 
as this gives me my text to-night. Take the word TEN 
and make an acrostic of it, and you have the three heads of 
the sermon. 

I. Time Flies. 

How it does fly ! Here is Mrs. Agnew with an experi- 
ence stretching back to the fourth or fifth year of this Sun- 
day-school, and yet how rapidly the years have gone for 
her! This Sunday-school is seventy-eight years old, the 



Address by Rev. George B. Stewart. 



81 



church is one hundred years old, and yet how short these 
periods seem as we look back over them. The official life 
of our present Superintendent, Mr. McCarrell, and of his 
revered predecessor, Mr. Weir, cover sixty years of the life 
of this school, Mr. Weir being Superintendent for forty-four 
years, and Mr. McCarrell for sixteen. May you, Mr. Super- 
intendent, live to round out your forty-four years of service 
in this office which you so adorn, and in which you are 
such a great blessing to the school. It will not be long 
until you, children, are men and women, until you, young 
men and maidens, are old men and women. Time is going 
very fast. It does not wait for anybody. If you get behind 
in your work, if you neglect your opportunities, if you idle 
away your days, you cannot hope to make up the loss. 
Lost time is never found. Time past never returns. Be up 
and at your work to-day and now, for time is going rapidly. 

II. Eternity is the Measure of our Life. 
This school is seventy-eight years old, and no matter how 
long it may last it will be so many years old, and it must 
come to an end some day. This school cannot live forever. 
But we will live forever. We never die. These spirits and 
bodies of ours will be separated some day by what we call 
death, but it is not death in the sense that we come to an 
end. We live on forever. Time is the measure of the life 
of organizations here in the earth, but eternity is the 
measure of our life. We who are living to-day will always 
live. The most blessed and solemn fact is that we can 
never get away from ourselves, we can never get away from 
God. He and we must live on together throughout all the 
ages that are yet to come. How important it is that we have 



82 



Centennial Memorial. 



our hearts right with him, that we should be at peace with 
him, since we are to live together forever. What misery it 
means for us if we do not love the things he loves, and do not 
the things he wants us to do. We sometimes hear people 
say, " I mean to be different some day, I do not mean to 
live this way always." Yet we must live always, and if we 
are going to be different we ought to begin at once. For 
what we are now and what we do now are going to tell much 
on what we are to be in the hereafter. 

111. Now is the Accepted Time. 
This word now is the word that is underscored and em- 
phasized throughout the whole Bible. All duty is written 
in the present tense. It is very pleasant to think of the 
past. It is inspiring to dream of the future. The past is 
gone and we can never change it. The future is not here 
and we cannot yet have its blessings. But the present is 
here and it is here with all its possibilities, with all its 
treasures, with all its work, and with all its duty. If we 
are to get what it has we must get it now, because the 
present is rapidly becoming the past, and as soon as it is 
gone it is gone forever. You have a work to do, do it. 
You have lessons to learn, learn them. You have duties 
to perform, attend to them. You must not wait, you cannot 
delay. Now is the time. Now is the accepted time. 
Take hold of the present moment. Do the work that is 
just before you. Heed the old Scotch proverb, " Do the 
next thing." Do not waste your time in thinking of past 
deeds, or dreaming of coming honors. The past is beyond 
your control, and the future is yet to come into your hands. 
Seize the present moment, do your duty now, and you will 



Exercises of Senior Department. 



83 



find your life being filled with good things, and your life 
work being fully accomplished. 

Now, you have my sermon. I do not think it will be 
hard for you to remember the text and the divisions. 
TEN: T — time flies. E — eternity is the measure of our 
life. N — now is the accepted time. 

The Superintendent. The distribution of prizes for 
unbroken attendance during the last year should be 
made at this point. The hour, however, is growing late, 
and the crowded condition of the room makes it almost 
impossible for the librarians to reach the scholars who are 
entitled to the prizes. The books will therefore be handed 
to the scholars entitled to them upon their coming to the 
platform after the benediction shall have been pronounced. 
In connection with this distribution, I desire to call 
attention to the fact that these books are the gift of a 
former Superintendent of the school, whose love for his 
scholars prompted him to provide in his will a fund, from 
the income of which this annual distribution of gifts might 
be made. We are grateful for his kindness and liberality, 
and the school should never fail to remember him, of 
whom Dr. DeWitt this morning so appropriately and 
eloquently spoke when he characterized him as that man 
of God and friend of man, James Wallace Weir. These 
books, as they go into the hands of the scholars who have 
earned them, bear the imprint of the James Weir Fund, and 
I trust that those who are to receive them may be imbued 
with the spirit of the generous donor. We will now sing 
the first verse of hymn No. 104. 



84 



Centennial Memorial. 



We are marching on with shield and banner bright, 
We will work for God and battle for the right, 
We will praise His name, rejoicing in His might, 
And we will work till Jesus calls. 
In the Sunday-school our army we prepare, 
As we rally round our blessed standard there, 
And the Saviour's cross we early learn to bear, 
While we work till Jesus calls. 

Chorus. 

Then awake, then awake, happy song, happy song, 
Shout for joy, shout for joy, as we gladly march along. 

The Rev. Mr. Skilling pronounced the Benediction and 
while Mr. Crozier played as an organ postlude Guilmant's 
Chorus in D Major, the prize books were distributed to those 
who had maintained an unbroken attendance at Sunday- 
school during the year. 



MONDAY EVENING, 

February the 18th, 189 at 7.30 o'clock. 

Union Communion Service. 
On account of the violent snow-storm which prevailed 
at the time of the union communion service on Monday 
evening, and which had prevailed throughout the day, the 
audience was not as large as it otherwise would have 
been. Nevertheless the house was well filled. The Pastors 
and Elders of the several Presbyterian churches gathered in 
the lecture-room prior to the service. Several of the Elders 
were detained from the service by reason of illness of 
themselves or of members of their family. Before enter- 
ing the church, Rev. William P. Patterson led in a fervent 
prayer for God's blessing upon the service of the evening. 
In view of the absence of some of the Elders, the previous 
arrangement for the distribution of the emblems was modi- 
fied, and it was arranged that Daniel W. Cox, Dr. Jacob 
A. Miller, Jacob F. Seiler, Gilbert M. McCauley, Francis 
Jordan, Matthew B. Elder, John M. Stewart, Abram L. 
GrofF, William S. Shaffer, Sr., William Jones, J. Wallace 
Elder, John J. Craig and John C. Harvey should distribute 
the bread; and that J. Henry Spicer, Thomas J. Miller, 
Jacob F. Seiler, Gilbert M. McCauley, Francis Jordan, Mat- 
thew B. Elder, John M. Stewart, Abram L. Groff, William 
S. Shaffer, Sr., Samuel H. Garland, David R. Elder, Alex- 
ander Adams and John C. Harvey should distribute the 
wine. 



86 



Centennial Memorial. 



After the Ministers and Elders had taken their places at 
the Communion Table, Mr. Crozier played as an organ 
prelude the final chorus from the passion music according 
to St. Matthew, composed by Bach. The choir sang with 
feeling and finish Dudley Buck's setting of John Henry 
Newman's " Lead, Kindly Light." The invocation by Rev. 
Reuben H. Armstrong, Pastor of the Elder Street Church, 
followed. The Rev. Albert B. Williamson, Pastor of the 
Paxtang Church, announced hymn No. 696, verses 1, 2, 6. 

Not worthy, Lord ! to gather up the crumbs 
With trembling hand that from thy table fall, 

A weary, heavy-laden sinner comes 
To plead thy promise and obey thy call. 

I am not worthy to be thought thy child, 
Nor sit the last and lowest at thy board ; 

Too long a wanderer and too oft beguiled, 
I only ask one reconciling word. 

My praise can only breathe itself in prayer, 
My prayer can only lose itself in thee ; 

Dwell thou forever in my heart, and there, 
Lord ! let me sup with thee ; sup thou with me. 

Rev. David M. Skilling, Pastor's Assistant in Market 
Square Church, read as the Scripture lesson the first chapter 
of Ephesians. 

The Rev. George S. Chambers, D. D., Pastor of the Pine 
Street Church, delivered the Communion address. 



COMMUNION ADDRESS. 



By Rev. George S. Chambers, D. D. 



In a very special sense, the communion service which 
has brought us to the house of God this evening is a 
memorial service. It is a feast of memory ; the memory 
of Christ, and the memory of service for Christ by gener- 
ations of His faithful disciples. 

Primarily and pre-eminently do the great facts of our 
Lord's love and death for us come before our minds. 
Neither the tender memories of departed friends with 
whom we have taken sweet counsel, nor the history of 
the generations of Christians who preceded them, and who 
laid the foundations of this Christian church, and of 
whose piety and zeal, this week is a commemoration, 
should obscure the Divine Person ; or diminish the empha- 
sis of the Divine Word which is the warrant of this service 
— " Do this in remembrance of me." Let us give Christ 
this pre-eminence to-night. And we can think of Him as 
the joy of all the communion services of this church and 
the others that have sprung from it, during all these years. 
Not a year has passed in the century which this week 
closes, without these assemblies of Christians around the 
table of the Lord. Company after company, representing 
all phases of Christian character and experience have thus 
met to magnify his atoning love. Of them we may say, 
varying the words of Paul concerning the witnesses of 



88 



Centennial Memorial. 



Christ's resurrection — " Some of them remain unto this 
present, but the greater part are fallen asleep." 

There is an appropriateness in making a communion ser- 
vice a part of this Centennial celebration. It will check 
any tendency to man- worship, into which we may uncon- 
sciously glide as we discuss the fortitude, and perseverance, 
and intelligence, and devotion of the men and women 
whose work at such a time comes into review. Moreover, 
a communion service at this time is suggestive to us of the 
true principle of a church's continuity. There would have 
been, there could have been, no Centennial celebration this 
week, had there been no communion celebrations during 
these hundred years. The history of a church is practi- 
cally the history of its communion seasons. These are the 
signs of its growth. Upon these depends to a very consid- 
erable degree the development of individual piety. These 
sustain a very intimate relation to family religion. If we 
can conceive of a church without the observance of the 
Lord's Supper, it is not one with the history of a century. 
It is, on the contrary, an ephemeral organization, inviting 
and hastening its own decay by neglect of, or disobedience 
to, the Lord's dying command. 

The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is a very essential 
part of the history which we are recalling and celebrating. 
It has constantly reminded believers of the love which 
founded the church, it has been a badge of their separation 
from the world, it has been a testimony to the world of 
their loving loyalty to Christ, it has been the means by 
which a confession of Him has been made on the part of 
those who, through sanctified family training and faithful 



Address by Rev. George S. Chambers. 



89 



preaching, have been brought into His fold, it has kept 
alive the faith of the church when worldliness has come 
in like a flood, it has been the jubilant expression of 
thanksgiving when the reviving power of God's Spirit 
has swept over the church. With its simple symbolical 
presentation of the great fact of atonement, with its 
prophecy of a returning Lord towards the fulfillment of 
which every celebration of it has been a step, the Lord's 
Supper has been an answer to the question, What is the 
secret of a church's life? The church lives because Christ 
died for it, and rose again. Where a church lovingly holds 
to these facts, and repeatedly confesses them in the service 
which He appointed, we may expect to see it blessed with a 
continuity of life and a constant enlargement of life. We 
can give a prospective, as well as a retrospective character to 
this service. We can confidently predict another century of 
history to this church, and all churches that exalt and con- 
fess Jesus Christ as Prince and Saviour. 

Thus making Him pre-eminent, we may allow ourselves 
to indulge in the memories of the holy men and women 
who have gone before us. With some of you these mem- 
ories are specially vivid and tender. To all of us, of course, 
the knowledge of the most of these saints of God is a 
historical knowledge. We read of the Christians of a 
hundred years ago and their immediate successors, and 
we admire their faith, and hopefulness, and courage. But 
there is a knowledge which is personal and experimental, 
of other g°dly ones who have been closely identified with 
these churches. They have been the fathers and the 
mothers of some of you. They have been the ministers 



90 



Centennial Memorial. 



and the Sunday-school teachers of some of you. They 
have been the intimate friends of some of you, dearer 
to you even than your very life. We cannot help think- 
ing of them at such a time as this. If we believe (and 
why should we not believe) that all the saints who 
have entered glory, during these hundred years, from this 
church, and the churches that have sprung from it, are 
interested in the work, and the worship of the church on 
earth, then with what an interest must this service be in- 
vested. They are looking upon us to-night. They are 
nearer to us than we think. The limitations of our mortal 
vision prevent us from seeing "this cloud of witnesses." 
"From behind the thin veil which severs us from them, 
they are looking down upon us." Let us take to ourselves 
the comfort of that description of the church as " the family 
in heaven and on earth." Let us think of that part of the 
household which has entered into rest, as both watching us 
and waiting for us. 

" O blest communion, fellowship Divine ! 
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine : 
Yet all are one in Thee, for all are Thine. 

Alleluia." 

Coming back to the thought with which I began, let us 
exalt the Son of God, our Saviour, in this service. He made 
atonement for our sins. Because He lives, we live also. 
Through Him they who have gone before us, and we who 
follow after, are one. They obeyed His dying command, as 
we are obeying it now. Through His relation to them and 
to us we are their contemporaries, for He is not the God of 



Address by Rev. George S. Chambers. 



91 



the dead, but of the living. This communion table is a 
place for memory to do a blessed work in recalling the 
achievements and the fellowship of the past. It is a place 
for gratitude that the Lord has given us some work 
to do as the successors of such consecrated men and 
women. It is a place for hope as we contemplate the 
greater field of service given to these churches, and the 
greater responsibilities which rest upon them. It is a place 
for fellowship as we express our interest in one another, 
and assert our church brotherhood. But it is all these in a 
peculiar sense as we think of Him who loved us, and gave 
himself for us. Our fellowship is with Him. Our hope 
is in Him. Our gratitude is to Him. Our memory is of 
Him,as the words, never old, always beautiful, fall with 
a new tenderness on our hearts, " This do in remembrance 
of me." 

At the conclusion of Dr. Chamber's address he pro- 
nounced the words of institution of the Supper, and Rev. 
William P. Patterson, Pastor of Olivet Church, led in prayer. 
The bread was then given by Dr. Chambers to the elders 
appointed for receiving it, and they distributed it to the 
people. In like manner also the wine was given by the 
Rev. George B. Stewart, D. D., Pastor of the church, to the 
elders appointed for receiving it, and they distributed it to 
the people. 

After the people had all communed, the Rev. George S. 
Duncan, Pastor of the Westminster Church, led in the con- 
cluding prayer of thanksgiving. 

Dr. Chambers announced hymn No. 688, verses 1, 4, 5. 



92 



Centennial Memorial. 



Sweet the moments, rich in blessing, 

Which before the cross I spend, 
Life and health and peace possessing 

From the sinner's dying Friend. 

Here it is I find my heaven, 

While upon the Lamb I gaze ; 
Love I much ? I've much forgiven ; 

I'm a miracle of grace. 

Love and grief my heart dividing, 
With my tears his feet I bathe ; 
Constant still in faith abiding, 
Life deriving from his death. 

At the conclusion of the hymn, which the congregation 
sang while standing, Dr. Chambers pronounced the Bene- 
diction. The organ postlude, The Hymn of the Apostles 
from "The Redemption," by Gounod, concluded the service. 
This service, with all of the Ministers, most of the Elders, 
and many of the People of the seven Presbyterian churches 
laid beautiful and solemn emphasis upon the unity of our 
church and the goodly fellowship of the saints. 



TUESDAY EVENING, 

February the 13th, 1894., at 7.30 o'clock. 



Musical Festival. 

The harmonies that filled the souls of Israel's prophets, 
priests and people with divine transports are the same 
which wake "the echoes of Paradise in the soul" of God's 
people to-day. Never so much as now has the church made 
use of music. Never so much as now have men thought of 
music as a note in "the universal concert of God's love." 
Thoughts such as these were in the minds of some, at least, 
of the great throng that crowded every available space in 
the auditorium, vestibule, gallery and rear hall and stood 
in the snow on the street to hear the musical festival on 
Tuesday night. 

Promptly at the hour, Mr. David E. Crozier, the accom- 
plished organist of the church, began the service with 
Wagner's "Vorspiel to Parsifal." As the last strains of this 
jubilant overture died away they mingled with the first 
notes of Dudley Buck's " Festival Te Deum." The large 
choir of the church, augmented by several voices from the 
Pine Street Presbyterian Church choir, sang this and the 
other anthems of the evening with precision, sympathy and 
spirit. The Rev. David M. Skilling, who presided through- 
out the evening, introduced the Rev. Harris R. Schenck, 
Pastor of the Falling Spring Presbyterian Church, of Cham- 
bersburg, who led the audience in prayer. The Rev. James 
Fraser, Ph. D., Pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Spar- 



94 



Centennial Memorial. 



row's Point, Md., was then introduced and read the 150th 
Psalm as the Scripture lesson. Mr. William G. Underwood 
took Miss Rachel T. Briggs's place in the programme and sang 
with fine expression " Glory to Thee My God This Night." 
Mozart's "Andante in F " followed as an organ interlude by 
Mr. Crozier. The choir then sang "Lo! It is I," as adapted 
by Shelly to a chorus by Faure. Miss Reba Bunton 
delighted the audience with her rich contralto voice in 
"Eye Hath Not Seen/' a solo from Gaul's "The Holy City." 

Mr. Skilling then announced hymn No. 456, vs. 1 , 2, 4. 
The congregation rising united in singing this hymn of 
Charles Wesley, so dear to the fathers. 

A charge to keep I have, 

A God to glorify, 
A never-dying soul to save, 

And fit it for the sky. 

To serve the present age, 

My calling to fulfill, 
Oh, may it all my powers engage, 

To do my Master's will. 

Help me to watch and pray, 

And on thyself rely, 
Assured, if I my trust betray, 

I shall forever die. 

Mr. and Mrs. Edward Z. Gross followed with a duet, 
"Forever With the Lord," in which their voices blended 
perfectly, Reinberger's "Pastorale from Sonata in D Flat," 
as an organ solo, and Dudley Buck's "Oh, Clap Your 
Hands," as an anthem by the choir, followed. 



The Musical Festival. 



95 



The President of the Evening. No anniversary, and 
certainly not the centennial, of this church could be com- 
plete without a festival such as this one to which you have 
accepted an invitation this evening. 

From the very beginning of this church music has had 
an important place in its worship. During the hundred 
years that are past this church has witnessed and partici- 
pated in the various stages through which church music 
has developed. 

From the period ante-dating the introduction of music 
books into the pews, when the hymns were *' lined out," 
onward through the era of orchestral music, when the 
flutes and violins and violoncellos sounded the notes for 
the singers, to the introduction of the melodion and with 
it the " Carmina sacra ;" and then to the present era of 
congregational singing, led by a choir so efficiently directed, 
accompanied by the music so skillfully brought forth on 
the large organ, and augmented by the anthems which we 
enjoy to-night, this church has sung its praise to the King 
of Glory. 

And, therefore, it has a history of music to tell. 

It is fitting that that history should be told at this time ; 
and it is especially appropriate that it be told by the 
speaker whom it is my pleasure to introduce this evening. 
The committee could have selected no one better suited to 
the task. A son of the church ; his father and brother for 
many years elders in this church ; himself dedicated to 
God in infant baptism at its altar ; in early youth received 
into its communion upon the public profession of his faith 
in Christ; a member of its choir from 1842 to 1858; and 



96 



Centennial Memorial. 



subsequently for a number of years the director of music 
in the Pine Street Church, he comes to us, I know, with a 
fund of information which shall be not only interesting 
but instructive. I take pleasure in presenting our brother 
churchman, our fellow-citizen, our friend, Mr. H. Murray 
Graydon ; his subject is, " The Hymnology of the Mother 
Presbyterian Church of Harrisburg, with Some Reminis- 
cences of Choirs and Choir Days." 



THE HYMNOLOGY OF THE MOTHER PRESBYTE- 
RIAN CHURCH OF HARRISBURG, WITH SOME 
REMINISCENCES OF CHOIRS AND CHOIR DAYS. 



By H. Murray Graydon, Esq. 



I have been asked to prepare a paper upon the hymnol- 
ogy of the Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg during the 
last hundred years. This will necessarily involve sketches 
and reminiscences, so far as they can be obtained, of the 
singers and choirs who flourished during that period, and 
led the congregation in their Sabbath service of song. Of 
course information in regard to the early part of the century 
must be meager in the extreme, as the memory of no living 
person reaches quite that far back. My own recollections 
of the music and musical personages connected with the 
church extends no farther than a year or two before the 
pulling down of the old and the erection of the new edifice 
on the corner of Second street and Cherry alley. But some 
few records remain, and I am indebted to Mr. A. Boyd 
Hamilton and to a paper prepared by the late Alexander 
Sloan, a short time before his death, for some facts relating 
to the subject under consideration, which take us back to 
the early part of the present century. 

It is said that John Wyeth, the father of the late Francis 
Wyeth, w T as the leader of the choir before the erection of the 
first church building. About the year 1809, Thomas Smith 
became the leader, and his choir occupied the space in front 



98 



Centennial Memorial. 



of the pulpit, there being as yet no gallery constructed. 
This defect was remedied about the year 1820, and the 
singers then took possession of that part of the gallery 
which was allotted to the choir. James Wright seems to 
have succeeded Mr. Smith, then James Whitehill, and he 
was followed by the late John A. Weir. Of the singers of 
that early day, who led the praises of the sanctuary, no 
record remains. It is pro.bable that Mr. Weir continued to 
lead the choir down to the building of the new church, 
w T hen he was succeeded by Mr. R. J. Fleming. A short 
time before the year 1840 I can recall a few names of those 
who occupied the choir gallery, I presume, under the lead- 
ership of Mr. Weir. These are Mrs. J. A. Briggs, then 
Miss Todd, and Mrs. John J. Pearson, then Miss Mary 
Briggs, both of whom were, I think, soprano singers, and 
Alexander Sloan and Andrew Graydon, who dealt out the 
bass. 

In the paper prepared by Mr. Sloan it is stated that the 
first regular choir was organized about the year 1818, and 
that he became a member of it about that time. This may 
be the fact, and the earlier singers may have been only 
the skirmish line, or advance guard. Congregational 
singing must have been at a low ebb, as it has sometimes 
been at a much later day, for Mr. Hamilton is responsible 
for the statement that the Rev. Mr. Buchanan, one of the 
earliest pastors, once said from the pulpit that if the con- 
gregation would not sing he would not preach. 

Mr. Sloan says, in the paper referred to, that in the year 
1821 or 1822 the first musical instrument was introduced 
in the shape of a bassoon played by a Mr. Holt, a school 



Address by H. Murray Gray don, Esq. 99 



teacher of Harrisburg. Before that time the leader prob- 
ably used a pitch pipe to get the proper key, as I have a 
distinct recollection of seeing an old wooden instrument 
of that kind in my childhood, not then in use, but kept 
as a relic. It was regulated by moving a slide up and 
down until the proper pitch was obtained. 

In the month of February, 1 842, the congregation occu- 
pied the new church edifice, and the choir became a more 
pretentious body. Mr. R. J. Fleming was then the leader, 
and assistance was given by an orchestra composed of Col. 
John Eoberts, with his violin ; Alexander Roberts, and 
afterwards George B. Ayres, on the flute ; and Dr, James 
Fleming, with a violoncello. The flute, if I remember 
aright, took the soprano, whilst Col. Roberts aided the alto 
singers, and Dr. Fleming played the bass. Mr. Fleming, 
the leader, whilst not gifted with a voice of much power, 
was thoroughly skilled in the science of music, and took 
great pains to make his choir proficient in both musical 
science and art.„ It was during his leadership that an 
Englishman, who happened along about that time, was 
permitted to introduce a trombone into the choir gallery, 
and this materially aided the bass singers. In order to 
conceal the instrument from the congregation below, some 
of whom might have been scandalized by its introduction, 
a screen was erected, attached to the upper pew, behind 
which the player sat and performed his part of the musical 
exercises. 

After the retirement of Mr. Fleming, Mr. Silas Ward 
became the leader of the choir, and remained in that posi- 
tion for a number of years. It was during his occupancy 



100 



Centennial Memorial. 



of the post that the first reed organ, in the shape of a small 
instrument, then called a melodeon, was used to assist the 
choir. After that the flute and stringed instruments gradu- 
ally gave up the service, the violoncello lingering the long- 
est. No pipe organ was ever used in any of the Presbyte- 
rian churches of Harrisburg until after the separation in 
1858, when first the Pine Street Church, and afterwards 
this church, introduced the instruments which are now in 
use. The original organ first placed in the gallery of Pine 
Street Church is now transferred to the Sabbath-School 
room, whilst a new one takes its place in the audience 
chamber. This church still retains the one first introduced, 
the gift of the late James W. Weir, of happy memory. A 
larger reed organ succeeded the melodeon in the church on 
Second street, and this instrument was rescued at the time 
of the fire, and is probably still used in some part of this 
building. 

After the congregation moved into the new church, in 
the year 1842, the old choir dropped out, and a younger set 
of singers occupied their places. Among these were Miss 
Sarah Carson, now Mrs. Wyeth; Miss Isabella Tod, now 
Mrs. Kerr; Miss Lucia Simmons, afterwards Mrs. Wilson, 
now deceased; Miss Susan Ayres, afterwards Mrs. Jones, also 
deceased ; Miss Margaret Carson, Miss Elizabeth Boyd, Miss 
Kate Emerson, the Misses Nancy and Lill Shunk, daugh- 
ters of Governor Shunk ; Miss Mary E. Graydon, now Mrs. 
Sharpe, of Indianapolis; Miss Susan Mowry, now Mrs. 
Fleming, and Miss Eliza Roberts, now Mrs. Given. The 
last four of these sang alto, whilst the others were soprano 
singers. Among the bass were Alexander Sloan, who kept 



Address by H, Murray Gray don, Esq. 101 

his old place for a time; David Fleming, Joel Hinckley, 
Patterson Johnson, Lucius V. Parsons, and after an absence 
of some years, Alexander Roberts. The tenor singer was 
Dr. C. N. Hickok. A still younger set were gradually in- 
troduced into the choir at a later day, and they continued 
there until the destruction of the church edifice in the year 
1858. Some of them are to-day matrons in both of the 
large Presbyterian churches, and as it is impossible to give 
the names of all, I refrain from mentioning any. 

But as this paper is supposed to be a dissertation upon 
the hymnology of the Church, I must not omit to notice the 
hymn and music books in use in the church during the 
period of which I am writing. Mr. Hamilton, in an article 
recently published, speaks of a hymn book called the " New 
Haven Collection," which he says was the first book used 
by the congregation. It contained only seventy hymns. 
The first hymn book which I remember was the authorized 
version of psalms and hymns, the former being kept sep- 
arate from the latter, and placed first in the book. The 
combined hymn and tune book, now so common, was 
unheard of in the church at that day, the music book, 
which was used only by the choir, being an entirely sep- 
arate work. It contained the tunes ordinaril} r sung to the 
psalms and hymns, and in the end of the book was gen- 
erally a collection of anthems and set pieces, to be used by 
the choir as voluntaries. The first two music books which 
were in use alter the new church was occupied, were the 
" Boston Academy " and the " Carmina Sacra." At a later 
day the "Psaltery" and the ''Mendelssohn" were intro- 



102 



Centennial Memorial. 



duced, and a short time before the destruction of the church, 
a new book, called " The Harp of David." 

A lady friend residing in the West, who was a member 
of the choir for a year or two, sending me some reminis- 
cences of choir days, speaks of some of the favorite tunes 
then in use. She mentions " Rothwell," " Cephas," " Har- 
well," " Oliphant," " Lischer," " Ariel," " Oberlin," " Ezra," 
" Ceylon," the last three being copied into our manuscript 
books, not being found in any of our own collections. And 
then the anthems, with which the morning service was 
generally opened, "Jerusalem my Happy Home," "Plunged 
in a Gulf of Dark Despair," " Wake the Song of Jubilee," 
" The Lord is my Shepherd," " Come unto me all ye that 
Labor," &c, " I will wash my Hands in Ipnocency," and 
many others. As pertinent to my mention of the anthem 
last named, let me here introduce a brief extract from a 
letter received recently from George B. Ayres, of Philadel- 
phia, whose old flute, played by him in the choir over forty 
years ago, is now on exhibition in the adjoining church 
parlor. He says : " You may notice in ' The Psaltery ' the 
anthem, 1 1 will wash my Hands in Innocency,' has two 
passages (in small notes) for the instruments alone. Well, I 
remember what a magnificent thing our people used to 
think that was — when the instruments played those pas- 
sages ! I suppose you recognize the bass part." 

We seldom hear anthems like those I have referred to 
nowadays. The modern voluntaries are generally more 
highly artistic, and relegate those of a simpler character to 
the rear. And yet 1 may be permitted to say that, in my 
judgment, the average congregation, even in these days, 



Address by H. Murray Gray don, Esq. 103 

would appreciate more highly and enjoy more thoroughly 
some of these old anthems, than many of those which are 
" executed " in their hearing in perhaps the majority of our 
Presbyterian churches. 

I know of no hymn book in use in the lecture-room, at 
the Wednesday evening service, until after Dr. Robinson 
was called to the pastorate, unless it was the one used in the 
church on the Sabbath. Possibly the hymns were " lined 
out," as was the custom in early days. Dr. DeWitt, who 
had a fine voice, generally started the tunes on Wednesday 
evening, and the range on these occasions was not a very 
extensive one. I remember that on one occasion a strange 
clergyman, who was conducting the service, gave out the 
hymn commencing " Now I resolve with all my heart;" and 
sang it to the tune " Rockingham. " Dr. DeWitt was 
greatly pleased with the music, which was then new to us, 
and from that time on we had it on nearly every Wednes- 
day evening. So surfeited did I become with the tune that 
to this day I dislike to hear it sung. 

After Dr. Robinson became co-pastor a small book was 
introduced into the lecture room, called " Parish Hymns," 
which was used thereafter and contained many very good 
selections. One beautiful hymn became a favorite, and was 

* The records of the Session contains the following- item under date 
of March 10, 1853, more than a year prior to Dr. Robinson's coming : 
''Whereas many members of the church having expressed a wish that 
a suitable hymn book should be used in the meetings for lecture and 
prayer, and the Session having examined several compilations extant, 
it was resolved unanimously to recommend the ' Parish Hymns' for 
the uses proposed." — Editor. 



104 



Centennial Memorial. 



often sung at a Saturday evening prayermeeting. Its open- 
ing verse was : 

When the worn spirit wants repose, 

And sighs her God to seek, 
How sweet to hail the evening's close 

That ends the weary week." 

The same hymn has since been arranged to appropriate 
music in one of the music books, as a hymn anthem, 
though I have not heard it sung for many years. 

These reminiscences must close with the year 1858. From 
that time two organized Presbyterian churches existed, and 
with the musical arrangements of the mother church since 
that day, the writer is not familiar. The constituent 
elements of the choir in Pine Street Church have varied 
greatly in the passing years, as have doubtless those in 
this church. In both churches the combined hymn and 
tune books are now in use, and there is less excuse than 
ever for a neglect of congregational singing. Choirs, too, 
have become more ambitious, and claim a much larger 
share of the musical part of the service than did their 
predecessors. Within proper bounds, this is not perhaps to 
be deprecated, especially if the music is entirely appro- 
priate. Possibly too little account was made in days past 
of the praise element, but we may be in danger of running 
too far to the opposite extreme. I confess to a feeling of 
misgiving when I see whole programmes published on a 
Saturday evening in the newspapers, including even the 
names of the composers of the pieces to be performed by the 
choir, inviting the congregation seemingly to a concert of 
sacred music, rather than to a meeting with the Master for 



The Musical Festival. 



105 



worship, and the hearing of his message from the pulpit. 
Let me be understood here, as objecting to the advertising 
and not to the praise service itself. 

But this is treading upon what some may consider 
debatable ground. I give only my own opinion. It is my 
province in this paper to narrate, rather than to moralize, 
and I therefore leave the subject, commending it to the 
calm reflection of all Presbyterian hearers. 

The concluding anthem by the choir was Farmer's " Qui 
To! lis'," this was followed by a soprano solo, u Jerusalem," 
sung by Miss Helen Espy with sweetness and expression. 
Rev. Dr. Thomas H. Robinson read hymn number 394, 
verses one, two and four, which the congregation having 
risen sang " as in the days of the fathers," to the solemn 
majestic tune of "Windham." 

A broken heart, my God ! my King ! 
Is all the sacrifice I bring" : 
The God of grace will ne'er despise 
A broken heart for sacrifice. 

My soul lies humbled in the dust, 
And owns thy dreadful sentence just ; 
Look down, O Lord ! with pitying eye, 
And save the soul condemned to die. 

Oh, may thy love inspire my tongue ; 
Salvation shall be all my song, 
And all my powers shall join to bless, 
The Lord, my strength and righteousness. 

The President of the Evening introduced Rev. Charles 
Edward Greig, Superintendent of the McCall mission work 



106 



Centennial Memorial. 



in Paris, France, who pronounced the Benediction. After 
the Benediction the audience tarried to hear the last of 
the inspiring music of the night, Lemmens' " Marche 
Pontificals" 

The brevity of this sketch of the most complete and 
enjoyable musical festival given in many years in Harris- 
burg is justified only because there follows another sketch 
prepared at the request of the editor by the Rev. Thomas 
B. Angell, Rector of St. Stephen's Protestant Episcopal 
Church, who was an interested auditor, and who is most 
competent to write in a critical way of the evening. 



THE MUSICAL FESTIVAL. 



By Rev. Thomas B. Angell, B. D. 



In the address with which the Rev. Mr. Skilling intro- 
duced the speaker of the evening, he made a happy refer- 
ence to the past that the church had a history of music 
co-eval with itself. And it was therefore not only fitting 
but suggestive that one evening of the Centennial week 
should be devoted to a musical festival — suggestive in that 
it indicated the increasing importance attached to praise as 
an integral part of worship. The writer may perhaps be 
allowed to congratulate the Presbyterian Church on its 
increasing perception of the truth that there can be few 
ways in which the higher aspirations of the spiritual nature 
can be better expressed than through the instrumentality 
of music ; more especially as the power of such expression 
in its higher forms has been given to man only of all 
created beings. 

It may safely be asserted that the time referred to 
by Mr. Graydon, when a psalm tune, lined out by the 
precentor and followed, more or less, by the congregation, 
was all that was considered permissible, and when that 
noblest of instruments, the organ, was looked upon as 
savoring of Romish tendencies, has forever passed. And 
no stronger evidence to that effect could have been brought 
forward than the elaborate and satisfactory musical pro- 



108 



Centennial Memorial. 



gramme rendered on this occasion, under the able director- 
ship of Mr. George R. Fleming, assisted by the masterly 
ability of Mr. David E. Crozier at the organ. 

Were this notice intended for temporary purposes 
only, it would be amply sufficient to print the programme 
and the names of those who assisted in its rendition; 
no other comment as to the adequacy of the production 
to the occasion would be necessary. But as it is under- 
stood that this volume is intended to be a reminder 
to future generations of this week of rejoicing a more 
extended notice seems to be called for. The writer regrets 
that his knowledge is not sufficient to adequately notice the 
organ work rendered by Mr. Crozier. We can only say that 
the selections were as happy as their rendering was satisfy- 
ing to musical taste, and it is safe to add that the varied 
resources of the organ were never more fully displayed. 
The vocal work was in the hands of a large choir, in which 
Mrs. E. Z. Gross, Miss Helen Espy, Miss Reba Bunton, Mr. 
George R. Fleming, Mr. E, Z. Gross, and Mr. W. G. Underwood 
ably sustained the solo parts. The opening number, Dudley 
Buck's w T ell-known Festival " Te Deum," probably the most 
satisfactory piece of sacred music written by this com- 
poser, was admirably rendered. Clearness of enunciation, 
accuracy of attack, and pleasing blending of parts testified 
to careful work and to Mr. Fleming's able leadership. 
Were any criticism to be made, it might perhaps be 
said that the time taken was somewhat too slow. In 
the absence of Miss Briggs, Mr. W. G. Underwood sang 
admirably, " Glory to thee my God this Night," a selection 
well calculated to display the power of the lower range of 



Sketch by Rev. Thomas B. Angell. 



109 



his voice. This was followed by an organ solo, Mozart's 
well known Andante in F, most satisfactorily rendered by 
Mr. Crozier. The anthem, " Lo ! it is I," by Faure-Shelly, 
displayed the good training of the choir in being able to 
lend interest to a somewhat uninviting piece of writing. 
Miss Bunton then sang the contralto solo from Gaul's Can- 
tata, The Holy City, " Eye hath not seen," &c, one of the 
most beautiful bits of devotional musical writing which these 
later years have produced. While not tuneful — as alas ! 
some people after a long training in the meretricious music 
of Gospel hymns, and so forth, reckon tune — its majestic mel- 
ody adequately mirrored the magnificent words to which it 
was wedded and no higher praise can be given than that. 
Miss Bunton's rendering was worthy of the music, which 
gave large opportunity for the display of a contralto voice, 
most unusual in its range and power, and specially fitted 
for the impressiveness of oratorio music. It was said in a 
metropolitan paper a few days ago that while nature 
afforded ample supply of soprano and bass voices, and was 
not niggardly in tenors, it was rarely indeed that she pro- 
vided contraltos. Our city is to be congratulated on having 
one of the rare voices within its limits, and the choir of 
Market Square Church on being able to number it among 
its musical resources. The duet, " Forever with the Lord," 
was sung by Mr. and Mrs. Gross with that mutual sympathy 
and tender feeling which gives such a charm to their work 
in duet singing. The choir fully sustained their previous 
efforts in their rendering of the anthems, " 0, Clap Your 
Hands," by Buck, and " Qui Tollis," by Farmer. Both of 
these selections were of that florid style, always popular, 



110 



Centennial Memorial. 



but with which the writer has to confess a certain want of 
sympathy. They are apparently composed with the main 
idea of showing off the agility of the human voice, the senti- 
ment of the words being a minor consideration. The exe- 
cution of them by the choir was, however, exceedingly good, 
though the substitution of English words in the latter anthem 
for the Latin, for w T hich the music was written, detracted 
somewhat from the effect. A special mention is due to the 
solo " Jerusalem" sung by Miss Helen Espy. Suited as it 
was in every way to the capabilities of her voice, Miss Espy 
rendered it with admirable purity and force of tone, together 
with a warmth and justness of expression that made it excep- 
tionally pleasing to the hearers. To Mr. George R. Fleming 
great credit is due for his admirable conducting, as well as 
for the aid which his strong, yet pleasing tenor, afforded to 
the choir in the concerted work. To the writer not the least 
satisfactory part of the programme was the closing congrega- 
tional hymn. A Presbyterian lady informed him that it was 
among her earliest recollections as having always been sung 
on the occasions of the administration of the communion. 
The air was evidently based on one of the Gregorian tones, 
and it is worthy of remark that the old favorites, "Olmutz" 
and "Hamburg," composed by Lowell Mason, were both 
adaptations from Gregorian music, the former being an 
arrangement of the eighth tone. It is pleasant to feel that 
in music, as in creed, the Christian church of to-day is 
linked with the long distant past. 

Mr. Graydon's paper of reminiscences detailing the 
various stages of progress and change through which the 



Sketch by Rev. Thomas B. Aug ell. 



Ill 



music of the congregation has passed in the last century 
was both interesting and appropriate. 

In every way this evening of melody was a worthy and 
fitting contribution to the varied features of this centennial 
celebration. That it was appreciated was testified by the 
presence of a congregation that taxed the utmost resources 
of the church. 



SOME ADDITIONAL REMINISCENCES. 



By the Editor. 



Mr. H. Murray Graydon's excellent paper upon the 
hymnology of the mother Presbyterian church of Harris- 
burg revived memories in the minds of many in the 
congregation These reminiscences have been gathered by 
the Editor into the following article : 

There is a significant coincidence in the organization of 
the first choir in the same year that Dr. DeWitt began his 
ministry. It was probably one of the first fruits of his 
ministry. 

From that time to the present there is no intimation in 
the testimony of persons or of records that the music of 
the sanctuary has been neglected. On the contrary, pastor 
and people have made every effort to make the music an 
edifying part of the worship on the Lord's day and at week 
day services. A former member recalls that somewhere in 
the twenties Mr. Joel Harmon, an itinerant music teacher 
formed a class for " the study of music and improvement in 
the art of singing" which met weekly. Many of our singers 
were in the class, and its meetings were frequently held in 
our church. Each member brought a tallow candle to sup- 
ply light. Mr. Harmon would make his lighted candle 
serve as a baton as well. The coat and hand bespattered 
with melted tallow gave evidence to his energetic efforts in 
bringing his pupils to time and expression. 



Some Additional Reminiscences. 



113 



Another former member was reminded by Mr. Graydon's 
reference to Dr. De Witt's custom of " raising the tune " at 
the week-day service, of an occasional slip. He would hum 
over to himself the first two lines of the tune, and then start 
the hymn, unconsciously joining the first line of the hymn 
to the third line of the tune, much to the merriment of 
herself and her young companions. 

To the early singers mentioned by Mr. Graydon, there 
ought to be added the names of Misses Rose and May 
Wright, neices of Major Forster, afterwards Mrs. Samuel and 
Henry Cross, Miss Ellen Graydon, afterwards Mrs. White- 
hill, Miss Theodosia Graydon, afterward Mrs. Joel Hinck- 
ley, Miss Margaret C. Berryhill, afterwards Mrs. Geo. P. 
Wiestling, Miss Martha S. Ingram (Mrs. William Dick 
Boas,) Miss Isabel Sloan, Miss Margaret Hays, Mrs. John A. 
Weir, nee Miss Catharine E. Wiestling, Messrs. Andrew 
Graydon, Samuel Cross and Geo. P. Wiestling. Many of 
these had voices worthy of more than passing notice, 
especially Geo. P. Wiestling and his sister, Mrs. John A. 
Weir, whose voices combined unusual sweetness and 
strength. A former member writes : " The memory of 
Mrs. Weir's voice, its wonderful sweetness, strength, range, 
rare pathos, and power to sway the feelings of her hearers, 
still lingers in the minds of her cotemporaries. Often has 
my father, returning home from trips to different parts of 
the State, told us about some one asking if that voice were 
still in our choir." 

In addition to those mentioned by Mr. Graydon as sing- 
ing at a later period were Miss Elizabeth Boyd, Miss Frazer, 
Miss Josephine Smith, Mr. Lucius V. Parsons, Mr. David 



114 



Centennial Memorial. 



Fleming and Dr. James Fleming. Special mention is due 
the Fleming brothers. Mr. R. Jackson Fleming was for a 
period of fourteen years leader' of the choir, and for many 
years his two brothers, David and James, were acceptable 
members of it. It is notable that in later days the three 
sons of Mr. David Fleming, and one daughter, Charles 
M., David, Jr., George R. and Sara, now Mrs. Joshua W. 
Sharpe, have been prominently identified with the music 
of the church. 

The thirties and forties were delightful choir days. The 
rehearsals were held on Friday evenings, and the whole 
evening was given up to it. Such prominence did choir 
practice have in the social life of the then village that 
parties were never given on choir night, friends were invited 
to the practice, and it was regarded as one of the delightful 
events of the week. About this period it was the custom for 
our choir and that of the Reformed Salem Church, then 
under the leadership of Mr. Geo. P. Wiestling, to visit each 
other in a body once a month for social and musical enjoy- 
ment. 

From time to time new voices appeared among those with 
which the congregation had become familiar. Among those 
who sang about the middle of the century referred to by 
Mr. Graydon, ought to be included Miss Mary J. Partch and 
Mr. Saxton, both of whom had voices of remarkable sweet- 
ness and power of expression; Miss Kate Doll, afterwards 
Mrs. Dr. Harris; Miss Esther Doll, afterward Mrs. Bradshaw, 
" whose voice will never be forgotten by the congregation of 
that day;" Miss Jeanette Street, afterwards Mrs. James 
Fleming, and Mr. Peter K. Boyd. In these days the choir 



Some Additional Reminiscences. 



115 



was large and popular. Mr. George B. Ayres and others 
testify that "it was the best choir in town, as a whole," and 
that its reputation extended throughout the State. 

Mr. Graydon's reminiscences ended with the year 1858. 
During these last thirty-five years the choir has maintained 
the high standard of early days. The disturbed conditions 
of life of the sixties, the presence of soldiers, the military 
hospitals, the tide of war rolling to our very doors, inter- 
fered seriously with the church life of that period. It was 
almost impossible to have choir practice. One of the choir 
of those days says, " Frequently did we have to hurry so 
rapidly from hospital to church that we hardly had breath 
enough to sing the first hymn." From 1850 for a quarter 
of a century Mr. Silas Ward was closely identified with the 
choir. His ability as a conductor, his fine tenor voice and 
his great enthusiasm as a musician were of invaluable 
service to the music of the church. 

It is impossible to give a complete list of all who have 
been in the choir since the erection of the present church 
building. During this period there appear in this company 
the names of Miss Sibyl Fahnestock, now Mrs. Thomas H. 
Hubbard ; Miss Ellen J. Weir, Miss Rachel T. Briggs, Miss 
Maggie Barnitz, Miss Annie Roberts, now Mrs. Purvis ; 
Miss Kate Roberts, now Mrs. Lowell ; Miss Ellen Roberts, 
afterwards Mrs. Kelker; Miss Elizabeth McCormick, now 
Mrs. Phillips ; Miss Belle Briggs, afterward Mrs. Blaikie; Miss 
Carrie Hickok, now Mrs. Schell ; Miss Sibyl M. Weir, Miss 
Nellie Fleming, now Mrs. Bruner ; Miss Alice Westbrook, 
now Mrs. Fager ; Miss Mary Detweiler, now Mrs. Quickel ; 
Miss Sara Fleming, now Mrs. Sharpe ; Miss Carrie Porter, 



116 



Centennial Memorial 



now Mrs. Shotwell ; Miss Annie M. Robinson, Louis Fahne- 
stock, Wallace W. Fahnestock, James W. Weir, Jr., Dr. 
Cherrick Westbrook, Jr., Henry F. Quickel, Charles M. 
Fleming, Melancthon S. Shotwell, George W. Boyd, 
William R. Fleming, Luther R. Kelker, William A. Robin- 
son, John W. Reily, John Porter. 

Mr. Charles M. Fleming, whose sweet, rich tenor won for 
him a wide reputation during his college days as a member 
of the Princeton University quartette, became the leader of 
the choir upon his return from college in 1875, and remained 
in that capacity until his death in 1883. The choir was 
without an authorized leader for some time, though his 
brother, George R. Fleming, by common consent, was recog- 
nized as the leader. Ou March 21st, 1887, he was elected by 
the Session to that position and still fills it with great 
acceptance. 

It is worthy of note that some families have been identi- 
fied with the music of the church through a long period of 
years. Mention has already been made of the two genera- 
tions of Fleming brothers. Besides these are the three Doll 
sisters, Miss Kate Doll (Mrs. Harris), Miss Esther Doll (Mrs. 
Bradshaw), Miss Sarah Doll (Mrs. McCauley), the latter 
being a member of the present choir. There have been 
three generations of the Roberts family, Col. James Roberts 
and his children, Mrs. Kelker, Mrs. Purvis, Mrs. Lowell, 
Mrs. Given and Alexander, and the children of the two 
latter, Alexander, Jr., George, John B. and James Roberts, 
and Misses Elizabeth and Louisa Given. Two generations 
of the Weirs have been in the choir, Mr. and Mrs. John A. 
Weir, Miss Ellen J., James W., Jr., and Miss Sibyl M. Weir 



Some Additional Reminiscences. 



117 



and of the Briggs family, Mrs. Julia A. Briggs, Miss Belle 
(Mrs. Blaikie) and Miss Rachel Briggs, and of Dr. James 
Fleming's, Dr. and Mrs. James Fleming, Miss Nellie (Mrs. 
Bruner) and William R. Fleming. 

The present choir is published in the Appendix to this 
volume among the present organizations of the church. It 
is only needful to call attention to the rare musical festival 
of Centennial Week to emphasize the high class work done 
by this volunteer choir. This choir, by its occasional praise 
services on Sunday evenings, has done much to magnify 
the place music has in the service of the sanctuary. These 
services were first introduced into the city by this church 
several years ago, and our example has been generally fol- 
lowed by the other churches. 

Musical Instruments. — As full and accurate an account 
of the various musical instruments in use prior to the first 
reed instrument, as it is possible at this date, is given in Mr. 
Graydon's paper. He very correctly says that Mr. Silas 
Ward introduced the first reed organ about 1850. It was a 
small affair, being what is called a melodeon. This was 
shortly followed by a large reed organ of unusual size and 
superior quality. It must have been a remarkably well 
made instrument as it has been in use for at least forty years 
and is still doing duty in the lecture-room. It was rescued 
from the fire in 1858, and continued to serve in the public 
worship of the Lord's day until 1872. During nearly all 
these years, from 1850 to 1872, Mrs. Isabella S. Kerr, was 
organist. Miss Sibyl Fahnestock (Mrs. Hubbard) and 
Miss Mary Nutting (Mrs. Wallace W. Fahnestock) also 
served acceptably in this capacity. 



118 



Centennial Memorial. 



This organ gave place in the latter year to the large Hook 
& Hastings pipe organ given by Mr. James W. Weir in 
memory of his beloved wife. This organ is still in use, and 
for sweetness, richness and power is not surpassed by any in 
this portion of the State. This organ has twenty-six stops, 
eleven hundred and eighty-three pipes, five mechanical 
registers, and four pedal movements. The case is black 
walnut, the pipes are silvered, with gold mouths, and its 
general design is made to correspond with that of the pulpit 
which it fronts. The silver plate on the front of the organ 
bears the following inscription : " Presented by Mr. James 
W, Weir, a memorial of his wife, Mrs. Hanna A. Weir, 
who died February 12th, 1872." 

On September 25th, 1872, the new organ was dedicated 
with an elaborate recital. Mr. John Zundel, organist in 
Rev. Henry Ward Beecher's church, Brooklyn, together 
with Mr. Thomas Winn, who had just been elected organ- 
ist, gave the large audience gathered for the occasion an 
exhibition of the many excellencies of the new instrument. 
The church choir sang several anthems and led the con- 
gregation in "Coronation," "Avison," "Mendon" and "Old 
Hundred." The soloists of the evening were Miss Rachel 
T. Briggs and Miss Maggie Barnitz. Mr. Silas Ward was 
the leader. 

It is interesting to note that while the church had, up to 
this time, been decorated with flowers at weddings and on 
other week day occasions, it was not until the first Sunday 
the new organ was used that flowers were placed about the 
pulpit on the Lord's Day. The custom then inaugurated 
has been happily continued until the present. 



Some Additional Reminiscences. 



119 



From 1872 to 1879 Mr. Winn, Mr. Charles H. Small, Miss 
Ellen A. Walker, served as organists. On January 1st, 1879, 
Mr. Henry F. Quickel was selected as organist and con- 
tinued to serve in that capacity until April, 1886. For 
several months Miss Sara E. Chayne, and Mrs. David 
Fleming, Jr., took charge of the instrument. Mr. David 
Edgar Crozier, the present accomplished organist, began 
his duties on the last Sunday in November, 1886. 

The reed organ in use in the Senior department was a 
gift, at the dedication of the present Sunday-school in 
1883, from the Superintendent, Mr. Samuel J. M. McCarrell, 
a memorial of his son, Wallace A. McCarrell, who departed 
this life, December 16th, 1880. 

The reed organ in the Intermediate room was the gift of 
Mrs. David Fleming, in 1891. The piano in the Primary 
room was secured by the officers of that department and 
the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, in 
March, 1890. The reed organ used in the parlor was pre- 
sented by Mr. James W. Weir many years ago. 

Special reference must be made to the valuable services 
of Mrs. Isabella S. Kerr. For nearly fifty years Mrs. Kerr 
has been identified with the music of the church. Her fine 
musical ability, her abiding interest and untiring devotion 
to everything pertaining to our musical affairs, her aptitude 
to fill any place and meet any emergency made her indis- 
pensable. Not only did she serve in the public worship 
of the sanctuary, as has already been mentioned, but for 
many years she played the organ and led the singing in 
the lecture room, and had charge of the music in the Senior 
department of the Sunday-school. When the present 



120 



Centennial Memorial. 



Pastor arrived in Harrisburg, she introduced herself as 
" Chairman of the Committee on Music, Flowers and 
Dirt." Her unremitting attention to the cleanliness of the 
sanctuary, her love for flowers and diligent care to have 
them each week for many years about the pulpit, her 
personal connection with the music as singer, organist 
and director, justify this rather unique and suggestive title. 

Music and Hymn Books. — Mr. Graydon has given all the 
facts obtainable touching the music books used by the choir 
prior to the introduction of the modern combined hymn 
and tune books. 

On October 22d, 1834, the Session resolved to recommend 
to the " congregation to adopt in their public wwship the 
Psalms and Hymns, comprised in the selection authorized 
and recommended by the General Assembly of the Presby- 
terian church, and that if there be no objection made by 
the congregation to their adoption they be introduced the 
first Sabbath of December next." There seems to have been 
no objection offered, for this collection came into use and 
continued to be the hymn book for use in public worship 
until 1859. This collection was a revision under the direc- 
tion of a General Assembly Committee, of a previously 
existing collection of Psalms and Hymns by Dr. Isaac 
Watts, and it took the place of the early edition in the wor- 
ship in our congregation. The earlier collection gave more 
prominence to the Psalms than to the hymns. Its hymns 
were arranged in three books, those " collected from the 
Scripture," one hundred and fifty hymns, those " composed 
on divine subjects," one hundred and seventy, and those 



Some Additional Reminiscences. 



121 



" prepared for the Lord's Sapper," forty-five, a total of three 
hundred and sixty-five hymns. 

How long this collection was in use in the congregation 
prior to 1834 is not known ; but there is every reason for 
supposing that it was the first hymn book used by the con- 
gregation. The collection adopted in 1834 shows the 
tendency to an increasing use of hymns. There are fewer 
Psalms and more hymns. It was a thorough revision of 
the earlier book, especially in the section devoted to the 
hymns. Old hymns were omitted, new ones inserted, and 
the arrangement was more convenient, as the hymns were 
consecutively numbered. There were five hundred and 
thirty-one hymns, most, but not all of them, from the 
famous Dr. Watts. Doddridge, Montgomery, Mrs. Steele, 
Newton, Beddome, Heber, Cowper, Toplady, Fawcett, and 
noticeably Wesley are among the hymn-writers, whose pro- 
ductions the congregation began to sing in 1834. 

This collection continued in use until 1859. About this 
date, possibly in October of that year, the " Church Psalm- 
ist " was adopted. This was a collection which had been 
published for several years as a private enterprise, and 
which was purchased by the new school General Assembly 
in 1857 and commended to the churches. The Psalms and 
hymns are still bound separately ; there is a more systematic 
arrangement of the hymns; the hymns number eight hun- 
dred and fifty-eight and are drawn from a wider range of 
authors. 

In November, 1874, Mrs. Eliza E. Haldeman, of precious 
memory, presented the church with over five hundred 
copies of the then new " Presbyterian Hymnal," which still 



* 



122 Centennial Memorial. 

continues to be the book used in public worship. This 
book is a radical departure from those in previous use in 
several respects. The Psalms and hymns are no longer 
kept apart, but are so mingled and undesignated that they 
cannot be distinguished from each other except by those 
familiar with the Psalms. The tendency to lessen the num- 
ber of Psalms and increase the hymns has gained percepti- 
bly since the earlier collections. In one thousand and six 
songs, probably not one in twenty could properly be called 
a version of a Psalm. The greatest change and the best is 
in the combination of tunes and words in the same book. 
This collection, while not ideal, was a great improvement 
over any other used by the congregation. This was the 
first time that the church had owned her hymn-books, and 
it was necessary that some provision be made in the pews 
for receiving them. Mr. William 0. Hickok generously 
placed, at his own expense, racks in the pews for this pur- 
pose. 

The records of the Session show that on March 10th, 1853, 
" Parish Hymns " was adopted for use in the lecture and 
prayermeeting. This subsequently gave place to the 
" Social Hymn and Tune Book which, in turn, was 
succeeded by " Hymns and Songs of Praise " edited by Drs. 
Hitchcock, Eddy and Schaff. This is the book now in use. 
A new edition of this book by Drs. Hitchcock, Eddy and 
Mudge, is in use in the public services at Calvary Chapel. 

Before 1856 "Union Hymns," a collection of five hundred 
hymns published by the American Sunday-School Union 
was in use in the Sunday-school. There is no record of its 
adoption. In 1856 it gave place to " Sunday-School 



Some Additional Reminiscences. 



123 



Hymns," compiled for the American Sunday-School Union 
by Mr. James W. Weir. There were three hundred and 
seventy-three hymns in this collection, many of them 
having been written by Mr. Weir. In later years there has 
been a great variety of Sunday-school music books in use. 
Every collection that had any merit, and some which had 
none, being adopted as it appeared. The present collection 
is " Winnowed Songs for Sunday-Schools," by Ira D. Sankey. 

The Intermediate department has used two compilations 
of hymns selected by some of the musical people in the 
church and printed exclusively for use in this department. 
The last collection was made several years ago, and the 
expense of its publication was generously borne by Mrs. 
Eliza E. Haldeman. 

This sketch, brief as it is, together with Mr. Graydon's, 
makes evident that the mother Presbyterian church of 
Harrisburg has had a history written in song and music, 
a history which reveals the high musical culture of its 
people and their sense of the important part music bears 
in the worship of God. 



WEDNESDAY EVENING, 

February the Uth, 1894, at 7.30 o'clock. 



The Presbyterian Churches of Harrisburg. 

The Centennial committee appreciating the fact that their 
church is only one of the Presbyterian churches in the city, 
and believing that the centenary of the mother would not 
be complete without a large recognition of her mother and 
her children, arranged for this evening to be devoted to the 
past history and the present condition of the several Pres- 
byterian churches which sustain these relations to her. 

The Rev. William A. West, the Stated Clerk of the Pres- 
bytery of Carlisle, now in charge of the Robert Kennedy 
Memorial Presbyterian Church at Welsh Run, and for many 
years the pastor of the Westminster Presbyterian Church of 
this city, was invited to preside on this occasion. Mr. West 
is greatly revered by this congregation, and his long resi- 
dence as one of the pastors in this city made this selection 
eminently fitting. The service began with an organ pre- 
lude, Guilmant's " Marche Religieuse." In place of Dudley 
Buck's "Hark, Hark, My Soul," which had been an- 
nounced for this evening, the choir sang "Holy Spirit, 
Come, Come," a setting by Martin of an old Latin hymn, 
written about the tenth century, and attributed to King 
Robert of France. Rev. Reuben H. Armstrong, pastor of 
the Elder Street Presbyterian Church, read Philippians 2: 
1-11. The Rev. Benjamin F. Beck, City Missionary, led in 



126 



Centennial Memorial. 



prayer. The congregation joined in singing hymn No. 232, 
vs. 1, 2, 3, 4: 

Jesus ! the very thought of Thee 

With sweetness fills my breast ; 
But sweeter far Thy face to see, 

And in Thy presence rest. 

Nor voice can sing, nor heart can frame, 

Nor can the memory find, 
A sweeter sound than Thy blest name, 

O Saviour of mankind. 

O hope of every contrite heart, 

O joy of all the meek ! 
To those who fall how kind Thou art, 

How good to those who seek ! 

But what to those who find ? Ah ! this 

Nor tongue nor pen can show ; 
The love of Jesus— what it is, 

None but His loved ones know. 

The President of the Evening. I think it a great 
pleasure and privilege to be here this evening, and espe- 
cially to have the honor of presiding at a meeting in which 
shall be given brief sketches of the dealings of God to and 
by the churches of this city. The history of one of these 
churches runs back a century, and of the others to different 
periods. It has been very properly arranged upon the pro- 
gramme that before hearing these sketches of the churches 
of the city, we should hear from the mother church, Old 
Paxtang, a name loved and revered not only in this 
immediate section, but throughout the Presbytery of Car- 
lisle. It has been appointed that brief papers, not exceed- 
ing fifteen minutes in length, excepting that of the church 



Address by Rev. Albert B. Williamson. 127 



in which we meet, to which thirty minutes have very prop- 
erly been allowed, shall be heard. We will hear first from 
Paxtang, organized about 1726, through the Pastor, the 
Rev. Albert B. Williamson. 

Address by Rev. Albert B. Williamson. 

Owing to the fact that the sesqui-centennial celebration 
of old Paxtang Church is of such recent date, and that 
her history was then well-nigh exhausted in the compre- 
hensive article by the ready pen of our able State Libra- 
rian, Dr. Egle, (these facts all being printed in the daily 
newspapers, and preserved in a beautifully bound volume 
that, most of you, without doubt, have in your possession,) 
it will be almost impossible for me to say anything to you 
that will be new concerning the first part of the subject 
that was given me for this evening. 

Paxtang Church is situated three miles east of Harris- 
burg, taking the court house for a starting point. It was 
organized by Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, who unable longer 
to endure the oppression of the old world, sought new 
homes for themselves in this " land of the free," where they 
could " worship God according to the dictates of their own 
conscience," no one but Indians daring to molest and they 
could not make afraid. They came in their poverty, but 
they brought along with them their Bibles, catechisms, 
trusty rifles, and last, but by no means least, their brains. 
As a result they have established for themselves and their 
descendants a name for intelligence, resolute patriotism and 
stalwart Christianity, that has distinguished Paxtang parish- 
ioners through the greater portion of two centuries. 



128 



Centennial Memorial. 



Very soon after making homes for themselves in this 
new world, they built a log church in which to worship 
God, situated a few yards south of the present church 
building. Some few foundation stones of this structure 
could be seen in recent years. Exactly when this log 
church was built, how long it stood, and when it was torn 
down to make way for a more substantial one of stone, no 
one seems to know. Close by this log structure were the 
graves of the early pioneers. 

Unfortunately all these graves with one exception were 
unmarked, and that one, we are told, was a rudely chiseled 
stone bearing the simple inscription, " Died 1716." 

In 1740 the present house of worship was built, and 
this building " is the oldest house of Presbyterian worship 
in the entire State of Pennsylvania. There it stands 
to-day, firmer than the day it was built. The stones used 
in this building are rough surface limestones of all sizes 
and shapes, picked up from the surrounding fields, and 
put together with very little skill, and yet no firmer, 
better walls can be found, and why? Because the builders 
were the masters of a lost art, they knew how to make 
good mortar. The strength of the walls lies in the mortar 
which is as hard as the stones themselves. The storms of 
over a century and a half have had so little effect upon it 
that the marks of the mason's trowel are as clear as when 
they laid it." 

The only thing about our past that I may be able to say 
this evening that will be new to at least a portion of you, 
will be about the old Paxtang charter, which by the way, 
is the oldest corporation charter in Dauphin county. 



Paxtang Church. 

Erected 1740. 



Address by Rev. Albert B. Williamson. 



129 



This charter was granted by the Legislature to Paxtang 
Presbyterian Church, April 1st, 1781. This charter calls 
for thirteen trustees, one of whom is the pastor elect, " who 
is entitled to vote equally with any member of the Board 
of trustees." The trustees, whose names are in this charter, 
were " persons of prominence, reputation and property ; 
farmers in the neighborhood." Their position is shown by 
their names and valuation found upon the assessment roll 
of 1785 and 1786. 



Name. 


Bate. 


Tax. 






£800 


£4- 


sO-dO 














230 


1- 


6- 


8 


Joshua Elder, 


875 


4- 


12- 







850 


4- 


0- 


6 




500 


2- 


18- 


9 


John Harris (founder of Hbg.), 


2.445 


15- 


0- 


2 




525 


3- 


0- 





Thomas McArther, 


225 


1- 


2- 


6 


Alexander McClure, .... 












250 


1- 


15- 







470 


2- 


10- 





Rev. John Elder, 


480 


2- 


0- 






Rev. Mr. Elder was pastor and trustee of Paxtang Church 
fifty-six years. None of the descendants of these trustees 
now reside in the neighborhood of Paxtang church. 

There are many distinguished men lying in old Paxtang 
grave yard without any mark to designate their resting 
place. Among those of known reputation who have head- 
stones to mark their resting place, are Win. Maclay, who 
was the first United States Senator from Pennsylvania ; 
Wm. Wallace, Gen. Michael Simpson, and also the man, 



130 



Centennial Memorial. 



who not only gave his name to this city and laid out its 
streets, but was largely the means of having Harrisburg 
made the capital of this great Commonwealth, and donated 
for a capitol site a portion of the ground now known as 
capitol park, on which the capitol buildings are now 
situated. To me the only surprising thing in connection 
with this man is, that this city has never yet honored her 
founder by erecting on some suitable site a monument to 
his memory. 

Throughout all these years the people of God have come 
up to this sacred spot to worship the God of their fathers. 
Swarm after swarm have gone off from the mother-hive 
and have found for themselves new hives which have grown 
larger and greater than the mother church. She has kept 
on in the even tenor of her way out under the old gray 
oaks for more than a century and a half. 

The first offspring of Paxtang Church is Market Square, 
which has now not only reached the mature age of one 
hundred years, but is much larger and stronger than her 
mother. It is not, however, with trepidation and fear that 
the mother comes this evening before her giant child, but to 
rejoice in the strength of her offspring, to bring her greet- 
ings of love, and to cordially unite with her in tne 
celebration of her one hundredth anniversary. 

The life of a quiet country church may seem to be very 
unimportant. No wonderful deeds such as challenge the 
world are recorded in its annals ; yet it may lie near the 
hearts and hopes of very many of God's children. As a 
birthplace of souls it is more hallowed than that of Marathon 
or Bunker Hill. The transformation of character effected 



Address by Rev.' Albert B. Williamson. 131 

in its midst is more important than the changes of empires ; 
the fellowship of faith sweeter and more enduring than the 
ties of nature. Its worship and its employment give more 
joy and satisfaction than the deliberations oi councils or the 
transactions of courts. 

The church has within recent years renewed her strength, 
and now bids fair to hold her position for many years to 
come. In the winter of 1887 and 1888 the interior of the 
church was reconstructed and thoroughly modernized, and 
a sexton was employed to take charge of the church and 
grounds. In the summer of 1888 three new elders were 
added to the Session. They are now the only ruling elders 
the church has. The membership of the church, which was 
thirty -two in the year 1887, has been increased to sixty- 
seven. The women of the church are actively engaged in 
missionary work, both home and foreign. The young peo- 
ple's missionary band is nobly doing its part, and many 
hearts have been gladdened this winter by the gifts of 
clothing made by it. The Y. P. S. C. E. has an active mem- 
bership of twenty-three and is a great help to both pastor 
and church. In 1892 lights were put in the church, since 
which time the cottage prayermeeting and the men's 
prayermeeting have united, and now worship every 
Wednesday evening in the church. The Sabbath-school is 
in a flourishing condition. This winter it held its first 
Christmas entertainment in the church. 

The President of the Evening. While it is pleasing to 
hear these tidings from the mother church, it will be also 
pleasing to hear from the sturdy daughter which has been 
doing such valued work during the last century in Harris- 



132 



Centennial Memorial. 



burg. It was a child whose birth was not hailed with joy 
and gladness by the mother, nor by its sturdy, strong- 
headed, stout-hearted pastor, Mr. Elder, of Paxtang Church. 
Notwithstanding that, she has grown and prospered and 
has been doing a good work for God and humanity. This 
evening my thoughts are turned back just fifty-one years 
ago to the winter of 1843, when, as a boy, I visited Harris- 
burg for about ten days or two weeks as the guest of Dr. 
Charles N. Hickok, now of Everett. During this time Dr. 
DeWitt was holding protracted services in the old church, 
which stood on Second street and Cherry avenue. Impres- 
sions were then made upon my mind which were deepened 
shortly after by hearing Dr. Oliver 0. McClean, of Lewis- 
town, and led me in April of the same year to take my stand 
on the Lord's side. So that I have always felt a peculiar 
interest in Market Square Church from that period to the 
present. We shall hear of the present condition of this 
church from the pastor, Dr. Stewart. 

Address by Rev. George B. Stewart. 

It is a matter of profound regret to myself and to all that 
Mr. McCarrell, who could so ably have spoken for this church 
at this time, is unable to discharge this duty. The state of 
his health is such as to positively forbid his undertaking it. 
It was not until a late hour that this became evident, and 
that it fell to my lot to take his place. 

To-morrow evening the history of this church will be 
given by one than whom there is no other more qualified 
to narrate the story with accuracy, fullness and interest. 
To-night it devolves upon me to set forth the present 



Address by Rev. George B. Stewart. 



133 



condition of the church. I shall endeavor to confine myself 
strictly to the present condition, and shall only call to my 
aid so much of the past as may be necessary to a clearer 
presentation of the present. 

It is a source of gratification that after a hundred years 
of activity the church is to-day in a condition of growing 
prosperity and strength. There are yet no signs of old age. 
Her force is in no wise abated. The workers from time 
to lime change. The methods of work are successively 
modified. The condition and needs of the field vary. 
Nevertheless the church is as well qualified and equipped 
to do her mission in this generation as at any preceding 
time in her history. In celebrating this centennial of her 
birth, we are not called upon to entertain fears of her speedy 
dissolution. She is not decrepit, nor has her old age any 
manifestations of failing strength. I ask you to consider 
her present condition in respect of 

/. Membership. 

The present membership of the church is 768. Of this 
number Mrs. Sarah Doll is the oldest, having united with 
the church on profession of her faith in 1827. After her the 
next in age is Mrs. Julia A. Briggs, who united with the 
church on profession of her faith in 1834. In 1843 there 
was a great revival, at which time the largest number who 
ever united with the church on one occasion were received 
into membership. Of this number the following remain 
members still with us: Mrs. Susan Fleming, Mrs. 
Elizabeth Kerr, Mrs. Caroline R. Haldeman, Mrs. Mal- 
vina L. Ingram, Mrs. Isabella S. Kerr, Mr. Alexander 
Eoberts, Mrs. Mary E. Vaughn, Mrs. Ann E. Zimmer- 



134 



Centennial Memorial. 



man. There are thus ten members who have been com- 
municants in this church for more than fifty years, or more 
than half of the period which we, on this occasion, celebrate. 
Two hundred and fifty persons united with the church in 
the twenty years that followed 1843, and yet only thirteen 
remain with us. They are Mrs. Ellen W. Stees, 1850 ; Mrs. 
Jeanette Fleming, 1853 ; Mr. Samuel D. Ingram and Miss 
Anna C. Weir, 1855; Mrs. Elizabeth B. Orth and Mrs. 
Elizabeth Reily, 1857; Mrs. Margaret F. Sumner, 1859; 
Miss Rachel T. Briggs, Mrs. Louisa C. Fahnestock, Miss 
Louisa C. Fahnestock, Mrs. Hanna M. Harvey, Miss Mary 
Vandling and Miss Elizabeth Vandling, 1862. Of those 
who were enrolled during the next twenty-one years, be- 
tween 1864 and 1884 inclusive, there remain two hundred 
and twenty-nine, while of those received during the last 
nine years, there remain five hundred and sixteen. 

II. Organizations. 
The oldest organization in connection with the church is 
the woman's weekly prayermeeting, held on Friday after- 
noon of each week. The meeting can be traced back as far 
as 1812, and during all of this long history it has borne 
an important part in the work of the church. So signal has 
been the influence and the activity of the women of the 
church that it was at first thought the centennial services 
would not be complete without giving special prominence 
to this fact by having a meeting devoted exclusively to the 
consideration of the work the women have done. But that 
not being deemed desirable it seems best for me to lay 
emphasis upon the activity of the women of the past, and 
to bear particular testimony to the great value of their 



Address by Rev. George B. Stewart. 



135 



service in the present. There is a large amount of unwrit- 
ten history in connection with this church which if it were 
recorded would be blazoned with the names of many godly 
and eminently useful women who have prayed and 
wrought to the glory of God and to the salvation of souls. 
You will pardon me for narrating an incident which has 
peculiar interest to me and probably to others. It is not 
likely to get into any history except as I might tell it. In 
1884, it pleased this congregation to call me to its pastorate. 
After receiving that call, I held it under advisement for a 
considerable, I guess the congregation thought it an incon- 
siderable, time. After many days of prayerful deliberation, 
the day arrived on which my answer must be sent, and I 
had reached no conclusion. I was in great stress of mind 
as to where my duty lay between your call and the wishes 
of the beloved people I had served for six years. The 
letter must go on a train which left the city a few minutes 
after four o'clock. Three o'clock had arrived and my deci- 
sion had not yet been made. In earnest prayer I sought, 
as I had previously sought, Divine guidance. I thought 
that I had received it and it became clear that it was my 
duty to accept your call. That was on Friday afternoon 
between three and four o'clock. I wrote the letter hastily, 
posted it and wired my decision to an elder of the church. 
He received my telegram, and a few moments later he met 
one of the women of the church and mentioned to her that 
he had received a telegram from me announcing my deci- 
sion. She said, " I know what it is. I have just come 
from the woman's prayermeeting, where we have been 
praying that he might come, and we seemed to have the 



136 



Centennial Memorial. 



assurance that he will come." I cannot but feel the prayers 
offered in Harrisburg and at Auburn during that one com- 
mon hour were instrumental in bringing the one common 
answer. 

The woman's Friday afternoon prayermeeting is a lineal 
descendant of the early meetings of the women in the 
church, though much of the work which was originally 
done in connection with its weekly meetings is now carried 
forward by numerous other organizations. This meeting is 
now in about the same condition in which it has been for 
several years. The attendance remains stationary with a 
few new ones becoming regular attendants who take the 
place of those called away by death or removal. Probably 
fifteen or twenty comprise the number of those who attend 
this weekly meeting. A collection is taken at each meeting 
which is given for such objects of benevolence as the 
ladies may decide. These offerings annually amount to 
about $150, and are appropriated to missionary and other 
uses. 

Another woman's organization is the Dorcas Society, 
which during the winter months meets each week to cut 
out garments and to do sewing for the destitute of the con- 
gregation. During this present winter this society, on 
account of the present distress, has been unusually active. 

The ladies are also carrying on with great and encourag- 
ing results a sewing-school for girls, which has been in 
existence since February 1, 1879. No girl is allowed to 
become a member of the sewing-school unless she is also a 
member of the Sunday-school. These girls are taught the 
useful art of sewing from the most elementary up to dress- 



Address by Rev. George B. Stewart. 



137 



making, fancy embroidery and fancy knitting. Mrs. Isabella 
S. Kerr has been superintendent from the beginning, and, 
notwithstanding her enfeebled health, is still the guiding 
and inspiring mind. Thus far for this winter there are 
enrolled about one hundred and sixty scholars. 

The Women's Missionary Society was organized October 
2, 1871, and meets monthly on the first Friday of each 
month. This society does a most valuable work in the inter- 
est of Foreign Missions, though its collections gathered at 
each meeting are divided equally between the Home and 
Foreign work. The meetings are well attended, full of 
interest and valuable as an agency for maintaining and 
increasing the interest in missions. Our women are also 
united with those of the several Presbyterian churches of 
the city in the Women's Union Home Missionary Society, 
organized in 1881. The ladies also co-operate with the ladies 
of other churches in the McAll Auxiliary in the interest 
of that mission work in France. There is a Ladies Aid 
Society, which devotes particular attention to the care of the 
church and its other material interests. It thus appears 
that now as always in the history of the church the women 
are foremost in every good work. By pureness, by knowl- 
edge, by zeal, they further the work of the Master here, and 
their power has gone into all the world. 

The Sunday-school was organized August 16, 1816. The 
school is divided into Senior, Intermediate, Primary and 
Chinese departments. The present superintendent, Mr. S. 
J. M. McCarrell, has occupied this honorable office since 
the death of Mr. Weir, in 1878, discharging the duties of the 



138 



Centennial Memorial. 



same with eminent ability and success. The secretaries' 
reports for the past year show that we have enrolled in the 
church school twenty-five officers, ninety-eight teachers, one 
thousand and ninety-six scholars, a total of one thousand 
two hundred and nineteen. Many of these scholars are not 
otherwise connected with the church. The children of our 
own members are almost without exception communicant 
or baptized members of the church, are members of the 
Sunday-school, and are faithful in attendance upon the 
services of the sanctuary. 

Among our young people we have a Young People's 
Society of Christian Endeavor and a Junior Society of 
Christian Endeavor. The former was organized Nov. 5th, 
1886, and the latter Feb. 3d, 1890. Both are valuable and 
active organizations. The Young People's Society has a 
membership of about one hundred and forty. It holds a 
weekly prayermeeting every Sunday evening before church 
service, a bi-weekly missionary meeting and an occasional 
social, and other entertainments. The zeal, enthusiasm and 
energy of the young people is being wisely directed through 
this organization along all the lines of church work, and 
though it is so recent an agent, yet it is one of the most 
valuable. 

The Junior Society is composed of boys and girls, and 
meets each Monday afternoon. It is under the manage- 
ment of five ladies, who are most enthusiastic in their work 
and have stimulated a real enthusiasm among the one 
hundred members. Just now the pastor is giving a course 
of lessons on the life of Christ. There is held a monthly 



Address by Rev. George B. Stewart. 



139 



missionary meeting, at which a collection for missions is 
taken. This amounts to about $40 a year. 

In addition to these several organizations among the 
young, there are numerous mission bands — twelve, or more 
— organized for home and foreign mission work and other 
good purposes. These ordinarily meet monthly, and are 
accomplishing good results. 

As one of the results of the revival in the winter of 1875-6 
came the cottage prayermeeting, organized Dec. 12th, 1875. 
This meeting is held every Monday evening from house to 
house. While the immediate purpose for which it was 
organized has ceased to exist, and many of its most active 
supporters have withdrawn from it to enter upon larger and 
more important church work, nevertheless it seems to have 
a place to fill, and is accomplishing good, though not great* 
results. 

For several years the music of the church has been led 
by a volunteer choir, which gives its services without com- 
pensation, with great heartiness, regularity and universal 
acceptance. 

For several years the Pastor has conducted during eight 
months of the year a weekly Bible class for the careful and 
systematic study of the Scripture. This class is attended 
by a small number of ladies and gentlemen who are de- 
voted to the work. It may properly be regarded as one of 
the organizations of the church. 

It thus appears that the church is well organized for the 
prosecution of a large variety of work and for the preserva- 
tion of its many interests. 



140 



Centennial Memorial. 



III. Calvary Chapel. 
In 1888, as a result of Sunday-school work carried on for 
many years in the neighborhood of Lochiel Dy the members 
of this church, there was erected a beautiful stone chapel, 
corner of South Cameron and Sycamore streets, and there 
was organized within it Calvary Chapel Sunday-school. 
This work has steadily grown from year to year. The 
school has outgrown its quarters, and a comfortable and 
attractive room has been fitted up in the basement during 
this past year for the use of a primary department, com- 
posed of the younger scholars. Since June 1st, 1891, the 
work has been in the more immediate charge of the Rev. 
David M. Skilling, who with conscientious fidelity, untiring 
devotion and great efficiency has carried forward the 
interests of this portion of the congregation. It is now a 
well-organized congregation in everything but the name. 
There are two preaching services, a Sunday-school and a 
Christian Endeavor meeting every Lord's da} T . During the 
week a Junior Christian Endeavor Society, a Ladies' 
Sewing Societ}', a Ladies Missionary Society, a Young 
Men's Association, a number of mission bands and Sunday- 
school class organizations hold their respective meetings. 
It is most gratifying to note also that there have been 
many conversions as the result of this work. The con- 
tributions of the Chapel congregation and the Sunday- 
school, together with the help of one or two friends 
of the work, defray the whole expense of the same, 
besides making generous contribution to missionary and 
benevolent causes. During the past year a free reading and 
social room has been established in the basement, and is 



vary Presbyterian Chapel, 

Cameron and Sycamore Streets. 

ERECTED 1887-88. 



Address by Rev. George B. Stewart. 



141 



open every night in the week for all who may come. 
Reading matter and games are provided in abundance. 
There is a gratifying attendance on the part of the men, 
old and young, from that portion of the city. We are much 
encouraged by the results of the experiment. Our affection 
for this work and interest in its prosperity is most sincere 
and unflagging. 

IV. Official Boards. 
The Session is the oldest of the Boards, its life being coter- 
minous with that of the church. It was constituted Feb- 
ruary 16th, 1794, by the election of three elders. It now 
has five elders, all of whom have been elected, as were their 
predecessors, for life. Of these five, three, Elders McCarrell, 
McCauley and Miller, were ordained to this office April 
loth, 1877, and two, Elders Harvey and Spicer, were 
ordained March 20th, 1887. As pastor of the church, being 
thrown into constant and most intimate relations with 
these brethren, I desire to bear testimony to their unvarying 
loyalty, fidelity and zeal in all the interests of the congre- 
gation in which God and the people have made them over- 
seers. It is an unwritten law of the Session that no action 
is taken unless it is unanimous action. The venerated 
Alexander Sloan, who served as a member of the Session 
from 1834 to 1890, was in the habit of saying that he never 
had been present at any meeting of the Session which was 
marred by unpleasant disagreement between the members 
of that body. The same can be said up to the present time. 
I never have met a body of men who have been more care- 
ful to respect the judgment and protect the feelings of their 
associates, while, at the same time, being most free and inde- 



142 Centennial Memorial. 

pendent in their thought and utterance. All of the num- 
erous activities and grave responsibilities of this congrega- 
tion have been committed to their charge, and they per- 
form their duties with commendable fidelity and distin- 
guished ability. 

The youngest official Board of the church is the Board of 
Deacons, which was first constituted by the ordination of 
seven deacons on the 20th of March, 1887. The Board is 
elected according to the rotary system, and as the term of 
each class has expired the members of that class have been 
successively re-elected, so that the Board has the same mem- 
bers now as at the beginning, with a single exception. In 
1889 the serious illness of Mr. John K. Tomlinson, one of 
the original members, forbade his re-election, and Mr. 
David Fleming, Jr., was chosen in his stead, and still is a 
member of the Board. This Board has charge of the poor 
of the church. They are the almoners of the charity of the 
congregation. They are most discreet and faithful in the 
discharge of their duties, and have come to be an indis- 
pensable part of our organization. 

The first Board of Trustees, under the civil charter of 
the church, was elected in 1819. Prior to this there were 
trustees, though the congregation had no corporate exist- 
ence. By the charter the temporal affairs of the church 
and its property are in the care of this board, composed of 
seven gentlemen from the congregation. The fact that we 
have such a large and valuable plant in the heart of the 
city, complete in all its appointments and in the best repair, 
that we have a beautiful and eligibly located manse for the 
use of the minister, that all of the financial obligations of 



Address by Rev. George B. Stewart. 



143 



the congregation are met fully and promptly, is abundant 
evidence of the ability and devotion of these servants of the 
church. Mention ought to be made of the fact that the 
Trustees, with the consent and under the direction of the 
congregation, during the past year purchased one of the 
most desirable building sites in the city, No. 127 State 
street, and erected thereon a most substantial, commodious, 
convenient and attractive residence for the minister. While 
the expense incurred by this has not been entirely met, 
yet it is safe to say that had not the city and country been 
suddenly and unexpectedly overtaken by financial distress 
after the building operations had been begun, the whole 
amount would have been provided for before this time. 
It is equally safe to say that the balance yet to be raised 
can, in the near future, be easily secured. 

V. Services and Meetings. 

As a matter of record on this occasion it is probably 
worth while to mention the various services that are held in 
connection with our church work. The Lord's Supper is 
administered four times each year, on the first Lord's day 
in each calendar quarter. For many years there has 
not been a Sacramental occasion at which there have not 
been some additions to our membership. The communi- 
cants of the church are uniformaliy regular in their attend- 
ance upon this ordinace. 

The sacrament of Baptism is administered statedly on the 
days following each Communion service, and on Children's 
Day in June, and at such other times as may suit the con- 
venience of the parents. Parents are, with rare exception, 
faithful in presenting their children for this ordinance. 



144 



Centennial Memorial 



There are two preaching services, at 10.30 a. m. and 
7.30 p. m,, respectively. Sunday-school at 1.30 o'clock, 
and Christian Endeavor meeting at 6.45 each Lord's 
day. Junior Christian Endeavor and Cottage prayermeet- 
ing on each Monday, with a monthly Session meeting on 
the second Monday of each month. On Wednesday even- 
ing the lecture and prayermeeting, and following it the 
teachers' meeting for the study of the Sunday-school lesson 5 
are regularly held. Friday evening is devoted to the pas- 
tor's Bible class. In addition to these services there are a 
multitude of meetings of different organizations and for 
various purposes held every week. It is entirely safe to say 
that during ten months of the year the meetings held in 
connection with the church will average in all about twenty- 
five a w T eek. 

For several years the congregation has been in the habit 
of observing with appropriate services, Children's Day, the 
second Sunday in June, appointed by the General Assem- 
bly. This day is now generally observed throughout the 
Christian world. We were one of the first congregations to 
inaugurate the custom. 

During the Civil War there was held on one occasion a 
morning prayermeeting at six o'clock on the Fourth of July 
to consider the nation's interests and to pray for its welfare 
This prayermeeting has been held uninterruptedly ever 
since and is well attended being participated in by our 
citizens irrespective of church connection. 

It has been the custom from time immemorial for this 
church to assemble on the animal Thanksgiving Day 
appointed by the President of the United States and the 



Address by Rev. George B. Stewart. 145 



Governor of the Commonwealth for services appropriate to 
the occasion. 

Other services are held as occasion may arise, the church 
being responsive to all proper calls to worship and service. 

VI. Spiritual Condition. 

It is probable that the spiritual condition of the congre- 
gation will never be satisfactory. It is to be hoped that we 
will never reach such a point in our growth in grace as to be 
content with our attainments. May we ever have a hun- 
gering and thirsting after righteousness. There is much in 
the spiritual condition of the church to call for humiliation, 
and confession and prayer. Many hearts in Zion are bur- 
dened with the desire for a higher life for their beloved 
church. May the number of these who thus long for the 
most excellent things of God largely increase, and may 
their fervent prayers receive from our Heavenly Father 
speedy and gracious answer in the quickening of His own 
people, and the conversion of those who know Him not. 

Nevertheless, we must not forget that active, earnest ser- 
vice foi the Master, and true zeal in advancing His king- 
dom are evidences of spiritual life. I cannot but believe 
that the large and varied activities of this congregation, its 
zeal for a pure gospel in the mouth of its ministers, for the 
honor of God's name in this community and the spread of 
the glorious kingdom throughout the world, its efforts for 
the relief of the poor and for the maintenance of all the 
varied agencies of the church, are the product of true spirit- 
ual power. The large contributions which it makes, aggregat- 
ing, now and for a number of years past, $20,000 per annum 
for the support of the gospel here and elsewhere, for benevo- 



146 



Centennial Memorial. 



lent and charitable undertakings of various kinds, is an 
evidence of the presence with us of the indwelling Spirit of 
God. That the fruit of the Spirit may be more and more 
largely manifested among us, that we may be rich in every 
good work, that we may grow in grace and the knowledge 
of Jesus Christ, is the fervent prayer of our hearts. 

In closing, permit me to say a word to the other 
churches — our mother church and our children. To you 
my brother, the Pastor of Paxtang Church, the grandmother 
of us all, who, notwithstanding her venerable age, is 
renewing her youth and coming into the possession of 
an increasing inheritance, hearty greeting. We entertain 
for you true filial affection. Paxtang will always be dear 
to Market Square. Much of the blood of that venerable 
church still contributes to the life and power of this 
congregation. Never will we forget our debt and obligation 
to you, nor cease to cherish your interest as our own. 

To you, my brother, the representative of the Pine Street 
Church, the eldest of those that have gone from us, on 
behalf of this church I extend the most cordial welcome 
to the enjoyments of this occasion. From the very first 
of your existence as a separate organization you have 
shared with us, share and share alike, the responsibility 
and honor of our denomination in the city. We rejoice 
in your magnificent usefulness and your increasing honor. 
We are more closely identified in interest, and purpose, and 
labors than ever before. I know that I voice the feelings 
of my people when I say, it is our earnest desire that this 
union in affection and activity may increase with our 
years. 



Address by Rev. George B. Stewart. 



147 



We cannot forget that an elder and others from this 
congregation were instrumental in starting the movement 
out of which has grown the Elder Street Presbyterian 
Church. Your conservative and substantial work among 
the colored people of this city is gratifying to all the 
friends of your race and church. We welcome you to- 
night. 

The large fields, the increasing prosperity, the acquisition 
of new and beautiful houses of worship which characterize 
the Covenant and Westminster Presbyterian Churches fill 
our hearts with gratitude. We welcome you. 

The Olivet Presbyterian Church, the youngest of us all, is 
nobly resisting and successfully overcoming the perils of 
infancy, and undoubtedly has for itself an important and 
growing field in the eastern part of the city. Our heartiest 
greetings to the infant of months. 

Dear brethren, we are not unmindful that a considerable 
portion of the life blood of this church has gone to advance 
your interests and we rejoice in it. We rejoice in your 
growth. Together with you we magnify the importance of 
your fields, and we bid you God speed in all your blessed 
work. 

This is a happy family. We are united in heart, in 
interest, in purpose. We have no rivalries and no conflicts. 
The interest of one is the interest of all. Our Master has 
committed to us the work of our denomination in this city. 
It is a work of commanding importance. As one man we 
undertake the task. In speaking for myself and for these 
people, whose minister I am, my last and my most impor- 
tant word is this, our fervent desire and prayer is that this 



148 



Centennial Memorial. 



occasion may emphasize our unity and strengthen its 
bonds. 

The President of the Evening. In 1858 an earnest 
and devoted band of christian men and women went out 
from this church and organized the Pine Street Church. At 
the time it was a great trial to the pastor and to the co- 
pastor, Dr. DeWitt and Dr. Eobinson. It was a great trial 
to the good people of this church. What the Lord was then 
doing they knew not. But as we look back over the past 
history, it seems to me that we can know as we behold the 
great and good work which has been done by that church. 
As I call to mind to-night the relation that these two 
churches sustained to myself and to each other in the work 
undertaken from year to year, I can bear delighted testimony 
that to my knowledge they have stood shoulder to shoulder 
and labored heart to heart and hand to hand in the aggres- 
sive work for a kindred faith in this city. We shall hear 
from Pine Street through Prof. Jacob F. Seiler,who from the 
time of its organization has been its honored Sunday-school 
Superintendent, and from a date shortly after its organiza- 
tion has been a ruling elder in that church. 

Address by Jacob F. Seiler, Ph. D. 
On the 22nd of May of the year 1858, a committee of the 
Carlisle Presbytery met in Harrisburg to organize a new 
church. At this date there were in existence in the borough 
two societies holding to the Presbyterian faith and polhVy, 
viz : the English Presbyterian, and a congregation of 
colored people now known as the Elder Street Church. 
Sometime in the preceding March the first-mentioned 
congregation had lost their church edifice by a destructive 



Pine Street Presbyterian Church. 

Erected 1859-60. 



Address by Jacob F. Setter, Ph. D. 



149 



fire. At this juncture a portion of the congregation, 
believing that the interests of Presbyterianism and religion 
in general would be promoted, requested the Carlisle 
Presbytery to grant them a distinct and separate organiza- 
tion ; forty-two persons bearing certificates of good and 
regular standing from the English Presbyterian Church, 
and eight others bearing similar certificates from other 
churches, were organized into a Presbyterian Church, 
according to the directions of the General Assembly. They 
then elected as ruling elders : Messrs Francis Weyth, H. 
Murray Gray don and James McCormick, Jr. On February 
1, 1859, the church was incorporated by act of the Legisla- 
ture under the name of the Presbyterian Church of Harris- 
burg. The original trustees named in the charter were : 
Messrs James McCormick, A. B. Warford, Charles C. Eawn, 
E. M. Pollock, A. Boyd Hamilton, Joseph Casey and J. 
Donald Cameron. 

Of the fifty who presented certificates on May 22d, the 
following persons are still in active membership : Mrs. 
Francis P. Pawn, Mrs. Sarah C. Wyeth, Mrs. Elizabeth E. 
Sharp, Mrs. Sarah E. Forster, Mrs. Isabella H. Hamilton, 
Mr. J. W. Simonton, Mrs. Sarah K. Simonton, Mr. H. M. 
Graydon, Mr. James McCormick and myself. 

On June 6th a Sabbath-school was organized with three 
officers, eleven teachers and forty-two scholars. Of the 
fourteen teachers and officers present at the formation of 
the Sunday-school the survivers are : Mrs. Wyeth, Mrs. 
Pawn, Judge Simonton, James McCormick . and the writer. 
An extract from the first narrative of the State of religion 
in the church is the statement, that " of the seven persons 



150 



Centeii n ial Memorial. 



admitted to church membership, six are from the Sunday- 
school." 

On May l*2th. 1S59. the corner-stone of the church edifice 
was laid with appropriate ceremonies. Addresses were 
delivered by Rev. Eobert Watts (now of Belfast), and Rev. 
S. T. Lowrie, of Alexandria. Va. Mr. H. M. Graydon read 
a statement of the steps which led to the formation of the 
church. Rev. A. D. Mitchell, of Paxtang. and Rev. George 
Morris, of Silver Spring, assisted in the devotional exer- 
cises. The stone was laid to its place by the Rev. A. G. 
Simonton. The church site was the same as that of the 
present with somewhat less extension on Third street. On 
the previous January the lecture-room was sufficiently fur- 
nished for temporary occupation. In August of the same 
year work was resumed, and that portion of the church 
building was completed and occupied on November 19th. 

On the 22d of -July. I860, a little over two years after the 
organization, the congregation dedicated the church edifice 
to the worship of God. It was a day of joy. and an occa- 
sion of public interest. Several churches in the city closed 
their vises ;: worsmr s:> :mt: rlieir members com! partici- 
pate in the services. The Rev. P. D. Gurley. D. D., of 
Washington city, and Rev. X. C. Burt. D. D.. of Baltimore, 
preached on the occasion. Meanwhile from the date of 
organization to January 5, 1860, a period of eighteen 
months, the congregation had occupied four different places 
for various meetings: the lecture-room of the German Re- 
formed Church, the lecture-room of the Baptist Church — 
Pine and Second, the hall of the Senate, and the hall of 
the House of Representatives. With the completion of the 



Address by Jacob F. Seller, Ph. D. 



151 



church building fairly in view, it was time to call a perma- 
nent pastor. Heretofore the congregation had been served 
uninterruptedly by temporary supplies. The spiritual over- 
sight of the church had meanwhile devolved largely upon 
the elders; of the fifty-three admitted to membership, eigh- 
teen were added on confession. This responsibility, along 
with the labor of procuring and providing for supplies and 
the conduct of week day meetings, though a labor of love, 
was none the less a labor. Therefore, both they and the 
congregation heartily welcomed our first Pastor, the Rev. 
W. C. Cattell, who had been unanimously called March 3, 
1860, and installed September the 22cl. The two great 
events in the church's history for the year 1860 — the calling 
of a pastor and the dedication of the building — were the 
occasion of much thanksgiving and congratulation, and it 
was a providential appointment that the congregation had 
so strengthened itself to meet the excitements and strains 
of the Civil War. Our town was turned into an armed 
camp. As many as ten thousand soldiers wearing the blue 
were posted in the then famous Camp Curtin, and threat- 
ened to swallow up every other interest. The tramp of men 
and the beat of drums ceased neither week day nor Sunday. 
Third street then as now w T as the great highway. The ex- 
citement was intense. On Sabbath morning, June 28, 1863, 
Dr. Cattell preached to a congregation of twelve persons. 
The evening services were omitted. More than once during 
the progress of this bloody war the female teachers and 
older scholars went from the Sabbath-school to assist in the 
various hospitals or to prepare for wants that could not 
wait for next day. Neither were our men idle or indifferent 



152 



Centennial Memorial. 



to the voice of patriotism. For at the call of country, ac- 
cording to the statistics prepared by the superintendent for 
the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Pine Street Church, 
forty -nine (49) members of the Sunday-school had served 
in the army and navy during the Civil War. The closing 
words of the report for the Sabbath-school covering the 
year 1864 are the following : " Eight deaths are recorded, 
among them those of Corporal John C. Lane and William 
Smith, of the Fifty-fifth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volun- 
teers, and of the same company. Smith died in hospital 
and Lane's death was hastened by grief over the loss of his 
comrade." Old people will recall the anxieties and hopes, 
with all the varying sensations, w T hich characterized those 
trying times to State and Church. But notwithstanding 
these distracting scenes, the Session in its narrative of the 
state of religion presented April 13, 1863, say : " Our Sab- 
bath and weekly services have been well attended, and our 
Sab oath-school has been largely increased. The sum of our 
contributions to benevolent objects, we are happy to say, is 
fifty per cent, larger than last year, and three times as great 
as the year before. We have welcomed into our number 
sixteen persons." " On July 19, 1863," the record further 
says, " Jacob F. Seiler was ordained to the eldership." The 
Board of Elders remained unchanged until May 22d, 1887, 
when the number was increased to six, by the ordination of 
Francis Jordan and Daniel W. Cox. After a period of three 
years and two months, Dr. Cattell tendered his resignation, 
much to the regret of the congregation, and preached his 
farew T ell sermon November 29, 1863. He had accepted the 
presidency of Lafayette College. On November 15, 1864, 



Address by Jacob F. Seller, Ph. D. 



153 



Rev. Samuel S. Mitchell, a licentiate of the Presbytery of 
New Brunswick, was ordained and installed Pastor of the 
Pine Street Church, and so continued for four years and 
three months, when he resigned to accept a call to the New 
York Avenue Church, of Washington city. The third pastor 
was Addison K. Strong. He was installed on the 14th of 
June, 1870. . Dr. Strong continued in the pastoral office for 
three years and eight months, when, having accepted a call 
from Kalamazoo, Michigan, he was released by the Presby- 
tery February 12, 1874. Once more the church was without 
a pastor. 

The membership of the church kept steadily growing 
under the care and oversight of our rather numerous 
pastors. Upon the resignation of Dr. Strong the net 
membership was three hundred and twenty -four. But the 
Sabbath-school had at the same time increased to a total 
of eight hundred and twenty-one. From 1872 to 1875 the 
great question was to provide accommodation for its 
increasing members. Prior to 1870 the Seventh Street — 
now Covenant — had been organized by volunteers from 
Pine Street. Later, about the year 1872, many of our most 
useful and best trained co-laborers took part in founding 
the Westminster Sabbath-school. Notwithstanding this 
spirit of colonization, the rooms were so crowded that from 
1872 to 1875 the urgent question was, how to provide for 
onr growing numbers. An effort which had originated 
with the Primary department met with liberal response; 
yet these contributions would have secured but a fraction 
of the bare ground. This was the prospect as the Sabbath- 
schools were holding their fifteenth anniversary, when the 



154 



Centennial Memorial. 



problem was solved by the generosity of a single family. 
The superintendent then made the gratifying announce- 
ment that Messrs. J. Donald Cameron, Henry McCormick 
and James McCormick would purchase ground adjoining 
the property, and Mrs. Eliza McCormick and Mrs. Mary 
Cameron would erect the buildings thereupon. The erec- 
tion and equipment of this stately and substantial building 
cost $41,600. How far this thoughtful liberality was justi- 
fied may be learned from the then existing and subsequent 
facts. Year by year the church had gathered from the 
Sabbath-school. Out of the eight hundred and seventy-five 
additions to the membership of the church during these 
thirty years, seven hundred of the accessions had been 
from the Sabbath-school. Total membership of Sabbath- 
schools 1,927. 

On December 3, 1874, Rev. John R. Paxton was called to 
the pastorate. He was installed Sabbath evening February 
28, 1875. The Rev. Dr. D. C. Marquis, of Baltimore, 
preaching the sermon ; Rev. T. H. Robinson, of the Market 
Square Church, giving the charge to the Pastor, and Dr. 
Cattell the charge to the people. 

On the 7th of April, 1875, the new Sabbath-school build- 
ing was dedicated. Addresses were made by Rev. S. A. 
Mutchmore, D. D., and Dr. Cattell, and the Pastor, Mr. 
Paxton. 

The church edifice was remodeled this year and altera- 
tions made, which completely changed the interior and 
added largely to the comfort of the congregation. 

On the 18th of June, 1878, Mr. Paxton announced his 
intention of asking Presbytery to dissolve the pastoral rela- 



Bethany Chapel. 

Corner Cameron and Cumberland Streets. 

ERECTED 1892-93. 



Address by Jacob F. Seller, Ph. D. 155 

tions. He had received and accepted a call to the New 
York Avenue Church, of Washington, D. C, following his 
predecessor in the Pine Street Church to the same pulpit in 
the capital of the country. On June 20th the request was 
acted upon by the Presbytery, and for the fourth time in 
twenty years the congregation was without a pastor. 

Bethany. 

As early as 1875, the initial year of Mr. Paxton's pas- 
torate, an experimental Sunday-school was located on Herr 
street, above Eleventh. Their first sessions were held in an 
unused church building owned by a society of United 
Brethren. This was located beyond the canal in a com- 
munity notorious for disorder and immorality, and had some 
features of a foreign missionary enterprise. Success began 
to attend the effort, and in the year 1881 a substantial brick 
building was erected at the corner of Eleventh and Herr 
streets. The society was incorporated under the name of 
Bethany Presbyterian Sabbath-School, and the title to the 
property was vested in the trustees of the Pine Street Pres- 
byterian Church. Mr. Samuel C. Donovan was the prin- 
cipal promoter of this last and very successful enterprise. 
Since December, 1884, Mr. Henry McCormick, jr., has been 
the acceptable superintendent. Prosperity attended the 
enthusiastic devotion and constancy of its officers and 
teachers to such a degree that it was necessary to erect a 
larger building. A new and beautiful edifice was built on 
the corner of Cameron (formerly Eleventh) and Cumberland 
streets. The last official report places the number of officers, 
teachers and scholars at 475. As yet there is no church 
organization. 



156 



Centennial Memorial. 



The present Pastor, Rev. George S. Chambers, was called 
September 11, 1879, accepted the call in October, and 
installed November 11th of the same year. 

During Dr. Chamber's pastorate there has been added to 
the church upon confession 427 persons ; by certificate, 185; 
a total of 612 accessions. The present membership, on the 
1st of January, 1894, was 724. 

Since May 22, 1858, to this date, 867 persons have been 
admitted to church membership upon confession ; and 631 
by certificate; a total of 1,498. The amount of money con- 
tributed during these thirty-five years by the Pine Street 



Church is as follows : 

To Home Missions, . $53,012 41 

" Foreign Missions, 43,772 21 

" Education, . * 14,437 01 

lc Publication, . . 3,344 50 

" Church Erection, 12,450 56 

" Ministerial Relief, 13,712 10 

" Freedmen, 6,074 52 

" Sustenation, 11,077 89 

" General Assembly Fund, .... 1,015 00 

" Congregational Purposes, .... 227,096 27 

" Memorial Fund in 1871, . . . , . 12,380 00 

" Aid to Colleges, 36,881 46 

" Miscellaneous Charities, ...... 161,615 02 

Total, $596,868 95 



Thus in accordance with the request of your committee, 
I have endeavored to set forth the past work of the Pine 
Street Church. Of the present work something ought to be 



Address by Jacob F. Seller, Ph. D. 157 

briefly said. In the city of New York and elsewhere cer- 
tain ecclesiastical societies have been called " Institutional 
Churches," a designation which characterizes a religious 
society which conducts not only purely spiritual exercises, 
but which also operates other agencies, such as educational, 
or physical, or which administers to merely pleasurable 
emotions by furnishing food to the hungry and amusement 
to the restless temptable crowd. It may be that Pine Street 
will get there in time. But at present she employs such 
agencies for her improvement, and that of the community 
at large, as Missionary Societies, Mission Bands for Home 
and Foreign work, Sewing Schools for the betterment of our 
neighbors' children, Mothers' Meeting for comfort and 
encouragement of over-worked mothers, Choral Societies, 
and a Boys' Choir to lend their trained voices on occasions 
ordinary and extraordinary, and of course a well organized 
and enthusiastic Christian Endeavor Society, a Beneficial 
Society for the promotion of thrift and honorable support 
against the day of adversity, besides her Home and Branch 
Sabbath-Schools in which Pine Street feels a proper pride. 
These agencies leave little talent unemployed. The Sewing 
Schools of Pine Street and Bethany have on their rolls 300 
scholars, and the " mothers " of the two societies number 
200, an aggregate of 500 to be instructed, cared for and com- 
forted. All this imposes a great responsibility upon any 
church committed to such enterprises. But good organiza- 
tion and capable management, developed by gradual expe- 
rience, has secured happy results under the blessing of God. 
In complying with the committee's request to " represent 



158 



Centennial Memorial. 



the Pine Street Church in an address in which the work of 
that church, past and present, should be set forth," it seemed 
necessary to enter into such details of statement as to fur- 
nish a historical narrative, based upon reliable records of 
figures and facts. The sketch may savor of vanity, but it is 
written in no such spirit. I am aware that spiritual results, 
which are the most valuable, cannot be expressed by figures. 
Bible study, power in prayer, a faithful ministry, modest 
service, and true consecration cannot be placed in tabulated 
columns. If the Pine Street Church has not manifested 
these graces, she has learned little of her Master and failed 
to catch the spirit of the mother church, which has set her 
a noble example of liberal giving, pure devotion, and mani- 
fold works of love and zeal which have adorned the history 
of the Market Square Church throughout the hundred years 
of her sturdy and fruitful existence. 

Note. — The writer of this article is entitled for many of the facts 
to a discourse prepared and delivered by the Rev. George S. Cham- 
bers, D. D., on May 20, 1883, on the occasion of the twenty-fifth anni- 
versary of the Pine Street Presbyterian Church. 

Mr. West announced hymn No. 93, vs. 1, 3, and the con- 
gregation, having risen, joined heartily in the singing. 

Saviour, blessed Saviour, 

Listen whilst we sing, 
Hearts and voices raising 

Praises to our King. 
All we have to offer, 

All we hope to be, 
Body, soul, and spirit, 

All we yield to thee. 



Address by Mr. Cassius M. Brown. 



159 



Great and ever greater 

Are thy mercies here, 
True and everlasting 

Are the glories there, 
Where no pain, or sorrow, 

Toil, or care, is known, 
Where the angel-legions 

Circle round thy throne. 

The President of the Evening. Notwithstanding the 
loss sustained in the burning of its church edifice and the 
outgoing of the Pine Street Church in 1858, the Market 
Square Church addressed itself to missionary work in the city 
and was principally instrumental in the organization of the 
Elder Street Church. Though it has never been large in 
number, that church has always exercised great power and 
influence among the people of that race in our city. Mr. 
Cassius M. Brown, an elder of that church, will now ad- 
dress us. 

Address by Mr. Cassius M. Brown. 
We are glad to unite with you, and to bring gratefully to 
you, our garland of praise at this Centennial celebration, 
as we recollect what you have been and are to us as a 
race and church in the city of Harrisburg, as you 
review your seed-times and harvests, your summers 
and winters, your warfare and victory. In His name 
have you gone forth into this community to do, to 
dare, to die, if need be, for His work and worth. In 
His name you come rejoicing with all of your offspring, 
bidding them welcome, asking them to bring some 
signs of the coming of His kingdom. Our presence here 



160 



Centennial Memorial. 



is a sign, suggestive, helpful ; founded upon principle 
instead of policy, far reaching in its bearings and conse- 
quences, awaiting greater reproduction to the glory of God, 
our Father and Friend, and to the better Christian develop- 
ment of many of his sons and daughters in many communi- 
ties within the territory of our Presbytery, Synod and 
General Assembly. And if our presence is a sign of the 
coming of His kingdom, surely the origin, growth and 
present outlook of the Elder Street Presbyterian Church and 
Sabbath-school are equally and even more significant to 
this end. A church founded upon the Bible as the only 
rule of faith and practice must produce the very best type 
of Christianity in many of its members. It is not surpris- 
ing, therefore, that as early as 1828 God put it into the 
heart of a Christian hero, in the person of Mr. Alexander 
Sloan, of precious memory, a member of your church, to 
begin teaching a class of boys in the old Methodist church, 
which then stood upon the corner of Third and Mulberry 
streets. Three years later, in 1831, this class was removed 
to the Presbyterian church, on Second street, and there the 
work was continued until 1836. For nearly twenty, years 
longer there was no organized effort to teach the colored 
people of this community. 

The unsettled condition of the Church brought about by 
the crisis of 1837-38 may have diverted the attention of 
many of God's children from more important work. The 
Methodist Church having removed to the corner of South 
street and Tanners avenue there had been some effort put 
forth to organize a Sabbath-school, but it resulted in failure. 
This fact came to the ears of some of the former teachers, 



EL.DER Street Church. 

Corner Capitol and Forster Srteets. 

ERECTED 1881. 



Address by Mr. Cassius M. Brown. 



161 



and, the Holy Spirit leading them forward with some 
others, upon the 17th of April, 1855, they organized The 
Union Sabbath-School Association of Harrisburg. At the 
end of two years' labor the basement of the church was too 
small for the work, and a room, belonging to the German 
Reformed Church, corner of Third and Chestnut streets, 
was secured. In the autumn of the same year, 1857, the 
colored public school building, upon West avenue, was 
occupied by the school ; and in 1858 they removed to the 
old armory, on West Walnut street, at the northeast corner 
of the Haldeman property. Up until 1871 the school re- 
tained the name of Union, since which time it has been 
knowm as the Sabbath-school of the Second, or of the Elder 
Street Presbyterian Church. 

From a little pamphlet written by one of the elders of the 
church, Mr. George H. Imes, who departed this life about 
two years ago, we are indebted for the following compilation 
and words of commendation of the men and women to 
whom, above all others, we are indebted for religious train- 
ing, as founded upon the word and works of Christ. At the 
head of this list of teachers who gave their time and talents 
to this work stand Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Sloan, Messrs. 
John C. Capp, George Capp, Alexander Graydon, Sr., John 
A. Weir, Mordecai McKinney, R. Jackson Fleming, Alfred 
Armstrong and Mrs. Alfred Armstrong, Mrs. Dr. W. W. 
Rutherford, Mrs. R. Jackson Fleming, Mrs. Harriet L. West- 
brook, Mrs. Sanders, Mrs. Bucher, Mrs. Rachael Fenn, Mrs 
Lydia Ingram, Mrs. Devout and Rev. A. G. Simonton and 
sisters, Miss Agnes Crain, Miss Matilda Elder, Miss Boyd, 
Miss Bucher and Miss Graybill. Others may have labored 



162 



Centennial Memorial. 



in this part of the Lord's vineyard whose names we have 
not mentioned. They were all, whether mentioned or not, a 
noble army of martyrs, doing their duty as unto Christ and 
not unto man. For, in speaking of the conditions under 
which this work began and continued, Mr. George H. Imes 
says: "It is to be remembered that this work began in the 
midst of the terrific conflict over slavery. The courage 
that led and the fortitude that sustained these noble men 
and women command our highest admiration and praise. 
The hate toward them was quite as bitter as against those 
whom God saw fit to make of a different color. These lov- 
ers of Christ and of men taught amid this madness lessons 
of religion and true liberty. God's messengers were they in 
the gloom of the slave and the peril of the free, shedding 
holy rays from the inextinguishable light of the world." 
During the period from 1828 to 1876 the total enrollment of 
pupils was 3,250, the amount of money contributed $2,300. 
A large number have become teachers, and the most accurate 
record we could obtain shows nearly 1,500 who are active 
members in some church. Since 1876 the work has been 
kept up in the Sabbath-school, and many have been added 
to the kingdom of God through the precious truths of the 
Bible by which they know in whom and what they have 
believed. At present there are twelve officers and twelve 
teachers in the Sabbath-school, with an average attendance 
of about one hundred. 

In 1858 the work in the Sabbath-school had produced a 
Presbyterian church. In the " Annals of Harrisburg " we 
have the following record : " About the 10th of September, 
1857, Mr. Joseph C. Bustill, at the instance of Hon. Mor- 



Address by Mr. Cassius M. Brown. 



163 



decai McKinney, of Harrisburg, called the attention of 
Rev. Charles W. Gardner, of Philadelphia, to the necessity 
of forming an additional Presbyterian church in Harris- 
burg. Induced by this representation Rev. Mr. Gardner, 
visited Harrisburg on the 20th of September and conferred 
with Rev. Dr. W. R. DeWitt and Rev. Thomas H. Robin- 
son, and the Presbyterians of the first church upon the 
subject, who experienced a lively interest in the matter, 
and promised to extend liberal aid to the enterprise, pro- 
vided a suitable place for worship could be procured." 
The great financial troubles which at this period prevailed 
throughout the country, however, caused a suspension of the 
project until the spring of 1858, at which time several 
members of the proposed congregation rented the large 
and commodious room in the second story of the brick 
building at the southwest corner of Walnut street and 
River alley which was fitted up as a place of worship for 
the congregation. Therein divine services were held every 
Sabbath under the direction of the Reverend Doctors 
DeWitt and Robinson. 

The congregation thus formed invited the Rev. Charles 
W. Gardner, who had returned to Philadelphia, to under- 
take charge of the work. This gentleman accepted the 
invitation and arrived in Harrisburg April the 9th. and 
preached his first sermon on Sabbath, April 11th, 1858. On 
the 14th of October of the same year, the congregation sent 
a petition to the Presbytery of Harrisburg asking to be 
regularly organized, which was granted. On the 27th of 
the same month a committee of the Presbytery met at the 
church in Walnut street to perform that duty. The Rev. 



164 



Centennial Memorial. 



William R. DeWitt, D. D., presided An appropriate ser- 
mon was preached by the Rev. Conway R Wing, D. D., 
from the following text, " And I say also unto thee, That 
thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church ; 
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it " (Matt. 16 : 
18). The Rev. James Calder, since deceased, of the Fourth 
Street Bethel Church, was present and offered an impressive 
prayer. 

At 7 o'clock p. m., the following named persons were duly 
organized into a church, viz: Jeremiah Kelly, Hannah 
Kelly, Hiram Baker, Nancy Christy, Matilda Greenly, 
Zillah Galloway, Sarah Hawkins, Curry Taylor, Sr., Eliza- 
beth Taylor, William White, Sarah Kelly and Hannah 
Humphreys, all of whom were received upon profession of 
faith, except Nancy Christy, who presented a certificate from 
the Presbyterian church, of Mercersburg, Pa. Jeremiah 
Kelly and Hiram Baker were respectively ordained as rul- 
ing elders. The Second Presbyterian Church of Harrisburg 
was chosen as a name for the new organizatton. After the 
organization of the church, addresses were made by Rev. 
William R. DeWitt, D. D., Rev. Conway P. Wing, D. D., 
and Rev. John W. Davis. The church made immediate 
application to the Presbytery to be supplied with ministerial 
services for the ensuing six months, whereupon the Rev. 
Charles W. Gardner was selected to supply them. 

The history of the Presbytery of Carlisle has the 
following record of pastors and stated supplies down to 
the present: 

Rev. Chas. W. Gardner, S. S, 1858-1863. 



Address by Mr. Cassius M. Brown. 



165 



Hiram Baker,* S. S., 1863-1869. 

Rev. J. H. Cole, S. S., 1870-1872. 

Rev. Hiram Baker, Pastor, 1872-1875. 

Rev. Isaac W. Davenport, Pastor, 1875-1877. 

Rev. George M. Bonner, Pastor, 1877-1883. 

Rev. Lawrence Miller, Pastor, 1884-1885. 

Rev. Reuben H. Armstrong, Pastor, 1886- 

The Elder Street Presbyterian congregation has had two 
church buildings. The first was a frame structure. Not 
quite as large as the present building, located on the same 
lot on the southwest corner of Elder, now Capitol, and 
Forster streets. It was erected in 1866. The second, a 
substantial stone building with a seating capacity of about 
three hundred which was built in 1881, a year after the 
first building was burned. During the interim that inter- 
vened between the burning of the first and the building 
of the second structure, the congregation, through the 
Christian fraternity of the Pine Street Presbyterian Church, 
worshiped in their lecture room. We record this with most 
grateful remembrance of the same, and of other substantial 
and liberal aid extended to our congregation by the above 
church and many of its most active members. 

Feeling that we have probably taken more than our share 
of your precious time we close with a statement, slightly 
modified, made by our present pastor upon another occa- 
sion. During thirty-six years the Elder Street Presbyterian 
Church has been preaching the blessed gospel of the Son of 

*He was one of the first Elders of this church. He subsequently 
studied for the Ministry of the Gospel, and in 1863 was licensed by 
the Presbytery of Harrisburg- to preach. — EDITOR. 



166 



Centennial Memorial. 



God to a most needy people, a people that the Presbyterian 
church can and must reach, both North and South, East 
and West, if she believes her doctrines to be Biblical, as she 
does, and is ready to defend. She is a church, therefore, 
adapted to all people, the rich and the poor, the learned 
and the illiterate. The Elder Street Church has done a 
work in this community which can never be fully described 
nor appreciated in this life. Over two hundred have united 
with the church, while thousands have been taught in the 
Sabbath-school, helped, cheered and led to Christ by the min- 
istry of her pastors and stated supplies, that are not mem- 
bers of our communion or denomination, but of a greater 
communion, fellowship with God, with Christ and with the 
Holy Spirit. We come to you, therefore, with grateful 
hearts. We come from the field of battle, not upon our 
shields, but with them in our hands, the Presbyterian 
shields, which have served us in many conflicts, not less 
because they are of the blue stocking material, but more 
because they are Biblical, and are used in His name, to His 
glory. If we are thankful to God for the past, with its 
fruitage ; if we rejoice at our present vantage ground, if we 
are hopeful for the future and will follow where He leads, 
" keeping close to Jesus all the way," no mind can conceive, 
no pen can picture what shall be your glory, who gave us 
being. We rejoice with you, whom our Father has highly 
honored in this community, and bid you God speed. 

At this date, February 14th, 1894, the following are 
the officers and membership of Elder Street Church and 
Sabbath-school : 

Rev. Reuben H. Armstrong, Pastor ; Thomas J. Miller, 



Address by Mr. Samuel H. Garland. 



167 



William J. Adore, Cassius M. Brown, Turner Cooper Sr.,, 
and Walter W. Williams, Elders ; James W. H. Howard, 
John Zedricks, Henry Coslow, W. W. Williams, Turner 
Cooper, Jr., Singleton G. Brown, Trustees. 

Communicant members, sixty-five, Sabbath-school mem- 
bership enrolled, one hundred and twenty-five. 

The President of the Evening. In 1866, under the 
leadership of Dr. Curwen, then superintendent of the Luna- 
tic Hospital and a member of the Pine Street Church, the 
church which was known until lately as the Seventh Street 
Church was organized. For long years Dr. Curwen was the 
sole elder and almost the sole supporter of the church. On 
account of the location, it never prospered to any large ex- 
tent, but since a more eligible site has been secured and the 
church has been removed, new prosperity seems to find en- 
trance to those engaged in that woi»k. So that we trust 
there is before it a prosperous and successful future. God 
in his providence recently took away the beloved pastor of 
that church, and this evening the representative of it in 
the person of Mr. Samuel H. Garland, an elder, will give us 
a short account of its history. 

Address by Mr. Samuel H. Garland. 

In the year of our Lord 1865, Dr. John Curwen conceived 
the idea of organizing a Presbyterian church in the extreme 
western suburbs of Harrisburg. Accordingly ground was 
secured and a building erected on the site of what is now 
known as the corner of Seventh and Peffer streets. 

The church building was completed and ready for occu- 
pancy on July 21, 1866. The vicinity of the church 



168 



Centennial Memorial. 



property was but thinly settled and the congregation con- 
sisted chiefly of inmates and attendants of the insane hospital 
of which Dr. Curwen was then superintendent. 

This church was then known as the Seventh Street 
Presbyterian Church, of Harrisburg. 

Prior to this at a meeting of the Presbytery of Carlisle, 
held in the Big Spring Church, of Newville, April 11, 1866, 
a committee* was appointed to organize a church in Har- 
risburg, provided the way to accomplish this end be clear. 
The committee met for this purpose Saturday, September 
8, 1866, and an organization was effected, the following 
persons presenting letters: Dr. John Curwen and wife, 
Annie Stewart, Mary Stewart, Mary McCullom and Eliza M- 
Todd from the church of Harrisburg; Dr. Graydon B. 
Hotchkin and wife from the church of Middletown, Dela- 
ware county, and Mrs. Margaret Cassady from the Presby- 
terian church of Letter-Kenny, Ireland. These certificates 
having been found in order, the committee passed the fol- 
lowing resolution : 

"Resolved, That the above persons, nine in all, be and 
are constituted into a church, to be known as the Seventh 
Street Presbyterian Church, of Harrisburg; to be connected 
with and under the government of the Presbytery of Carlisle, 
Synod of Baltimore and General Assembly of the Presby- 
terian Church of the United States of America." 

A congregational meeting was immediately called for the 

*The Committee consisted of Rev. James Harper, D. D., Rev. J. C. 
Bliss, Rev. Samuel S. Mitchell, Rev. A. D. Mitchell, Elders H. Mur- 
ray Graydon and James Elder. Mr. Bliss and Mr. Elder failed to 
serve.— Editor. 



1 




Covenant Presbyterian Church. 

Corner Fifth and Peffer Streets. 

ERECTED 1894. 



Address by Mr. Samuel H. Garland. 169 

purpose of electing a ruling elder ; Dr. Curwen was unani- 
mously chosen for that office. Of the original members, 
but one name, that of Dr. Curwen, remains on the church 
roll. He is still a ruling elder and takes an active interest in 
the church work at the present time, although having his 
residence at Warren. Soon after the organization of the 
church a Sabbath-school was organized ; a corps of teachers 
coming from the older churches in the city, assisted greatly 
in making the Sabbath-school a success, and were a power 
in upbuilding the church congregation. 

The church was served by different ministers,* until the 
spring of 1868, when the Rev. Charles A. Wyeth began to 
act as stated supply, serving in that capacity for two years, 
when a meeting of the congregation was called March 5th, 
1870, at which he was unanimously elected regular pastor. 

Accepting this flattering vote of the church for a con- 
tinuance of his labors, he was duly installed on the 
26th of June, 1870, serving for thirteen years in this 
capacity. The Presbytery dissolved the pastoral relation at 
his request, June 12th, 1883. Mr. Wyeth removed to 
Warren, and died there August 2d, 1889. His name and 
memory are held in the highest esteem by those of our 
church who knew him as its pastor. 

A memorial window has been placed in our new edifice 
in his memory. 

Owing to the removal of Dr. Curwen to Warren, and to 
the withdrawal of many of the workers in our church who 

* These were Rev. Ambrose C. Smith, now of Fairfield, Iowa ; Rev. 
Stephen W. Pomeroy 3 now of Mill Hall, Pa.., and Rev. William A. 
McAtee, now of Danville, Pa. — Editor. 



170 



Centennial Memorial. 



were members of the older churches, upon the departure of 
Dr. Wyeth, the tide of prosperous Presbyterianism seemed 
sadly on the ebb in West Harrisburg at this time. 

Fortunately the church had remaining a few unshattered 
hopes in the person of Mr. J. M. Stewart, Mr. David Dunlap 
and Mr. William Wolfe. These three, whose interest in 
restoring the church work to its former prosperity was 
unflagging, held a conference with Mr. Gilbert M. McCau- 
ley, an elder in the Market Square Church, and a man of 
untiring energy, which gave new life and inspiration to the 
work of re-organization. 

The services of Mr. John H. GrofT, a member of Market 
Square Church, were secured as supply for the pulpit. 
Teachers for the Sabbath-school offered their services once 
more, and they were gratefully accepted. These devoted 
persons served in this way until the fall of 1887, when the 
church was enabled to supply teachers of its own, and in 
this manner the work was greatly revived. 

Mr. John H. Groff served the church until the spring of 
1886, at which time he took charge of the Steelton and 
Middletown churches. His earnest Christian character 
coupled with a loving, sympathetic nature, left him many 
fast friends in the church and Sabbath-school. 

During the summer of 1886 the church was very accept- 
ably supplied by the Rev. Matthew Rutherford, a student 
in Allegheny Theological Seminary, and now Pastor of the 
church at Avalon, Pa. 

In the month of July, 1887, Rev. I. Potter Hayes began 
his ministry, and with convincing eloquence and untiring 



Address by Mr. Samuel H. Garland. 171 

effort he aroused the congregation co a sense of their per- 
sonal obligations. 

The church was re-carpeted, painted and papered, a new 
organ purchased and the Sabbath-school made self-support- 
ing. But it soon became evident, on account of the 
encroachment of the Pennsylvania railroad yards, with the 
noise and confusion incident thereto, that the progress of 
the church work must be greatly retarded. With his usual 
energy Mr. Hayes set about securing another location. 
Here again Dr. Curwen showed that amid his manifold 
duties as Superintendent of the Warren Hospital, he still 
held the interest of this church at heart, and came nobly 
to its assistance. A fine plot of ground, corner of Fifth 
and Peffer streets, the present location of the church was 
secured, and the church removed to its new location 
August, 1888, and its named changed from that of Seventh 
Street Presbyterian Church to Covenant Presbyterian Church. 

Here the work of the church was greatly enlarged, in the 
midst of a growing community. The pastor and people 
were kept busy re-organizing the Sabbath-school and other 
work to meet their pressing needs. The work of God's spirit 
began to manifest itself and the long and arduous work of 
pastor and people began to bear fruit. A few months before 
Mr. Hayes removed to Wrightsville a gracious revival took 
place and many were brought to Christ. More than two 
score of people were at this time added to the church. Mr. 
Hayes served the church until March loth, 1891, when he 
took charge of the church at Wrightsville. Mr. Hayes's 
work was of the highest order. Having found the 
church in a poor location with a meager working force, 



172 



Centennial Memorial. 



he had the satisfaction of seeing his efforts crowned 
with success ; the church having been removed to one of 
the most desirable locations in the city, its membership 
united and largely increased — the working force was almost 
doubled — two ruling elders having been added, thus in- 
creasing the number of elders to five ; the board of trustees 
having been re-organized and increased to five. Thus he 
left the church in excellent condition for future work. 

But the church had many trials before it, and not the 
least of its many was the selection of a pastor. Finally at 
a congregational meeting held May 1st, 1891, Rev. Charles 
A. Evans was given a call. Mr. Evans took charge of the 
work and served as a supply until October 1st, 1892, when 
he removed to Rochester, New York. 

The church was again thrown upon its own resources, a 
flock without an under-shepherd. However, at a meeting 
held January 13, 1893, the Rev. Robert Cochran was elected 
Pastor. Mr. Cochran was well known to most of the mem- 
bers of our church and was well received. He took up the 
work in a vigorous way, entering into it with his whole 
heart and being sustained by his people. The church began 
to revive, and with the advent of each communion service, 
the church received additional names to its roll. The Sab- 
bath-school, with a Primary department, was brought to a 
high pos tion of influence and usefulness. The result of the 
work done there bringing many to Christ and into the 
membership of the church. The Christian Endeavor 
Society was re-organized and is at present doing faithful and 
efficient work among the young people of the church and 
community. Mr. Cochran's work was of the evangelistic 



Address by Mr. Samuel H. Garland. 



173 



order, his earnest efforts being to point his hearers to Christ. 
In this work he was signally successful. He gave himself 
to the Lord and the Lord used him for the upbuilding of 
his cause. 

It soon became evident to the Church Session that more 
room was necessary for Sabbath-school and church work. 
After due consideration it was decided to appoint a build- 
ing committee, empowering them to do what to them seemed 
best in the way of improvements. The result of their delib- 
erations and labors is our new and beautiful church edifice, 
including a model Sabbath-school room. 

Mr. Cochran was untiring in his efforts to secure for us 
this new home. That the work of progress was hampered 
in our old building was not the only reason that we were 
inspired to erect a new and larger building. By the law of 
competition, mixed with a little pardonable Presbyterian 
pride, we were compelled, in view of the growth of the com- 
munity and churches of other denominations in our vicinity, 
to keep pace with our neighbors and make our surround- 
ings as comfortable and pleasant as theirs. Therefore our 
pastor and people determined to make a strong and united 
effort to secure better facilities whereby to carry forward our 
work. The work of building was begun July, 1893, and 
was pushed forward rapidly. All our people were looking 
forward eagerly for its completion. Already plans had been 
laid by our pastor for the extension of the work. The fond 
dreams of our people seemed about to be realized, when 
suddenly, like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky, a great 
cloud rested on our church and people. That dread disease, 
typhoid fever, laid its grasp on our beloved pastor and 



174 



Centennial Memorial. 



leader, when apparently in robust health. In his pastoral 
work this malignant disease had no terrors for him. He 
did not hesitate to enter the afflicted homes to minister to 
those who were its sufferers. 

Having consecrated himself to the Master's work, he had 
placed his life in the Master's keeping, and when called, he 
was ready with the answer, " Speak, Lord, thy servant hear- 
eth." The Master in his infinite wisdom removed him from 
his labors October 15, 1893. Our people bowing their 
heads in sorrowful submission, said, " Thy will be done, not 
ours, Lord." For a time it seemed that we could not 
withstand the shock occasioned by this severe blow, but we 
turned to his word and met with the passage, " Whom the 
Lord loveth he chasteneth." Taking up the work again we 
were greatly encouraged by our Moderator, Rev. D. M- 
Skilling, who was appointed by Presbytery immediately 
after the death of our Pastor. 

Mr. Cochran, by his earnest Christian example, furnished 
a fine object lesson to his people and the community of 
what a thoroughly consecrated man can do. Having by 
precept and example, endeavored to lead his people near 
to Christ, when he was so suddenly called away, he left 
them a united praying people, ready to do the Master's 
work whenever called upon to do it. The large and 
beautiful memorial window erected to his memory in 
our new church was placed there by his brother ministers 
of the Presbytery. 

Our past has been an eventful one, and one full of 
affliction, but we think we can see a break in the clouds. 
Our church is practically finished and furnished at a cost 



Address by Mr. Samuel H. Garland. 175 

of $8,500.00. This is not all provided for, and owing to 
the stringency of the times, the money is coming in slowly. 
But we have faith that ways and means will be provided 
in the not far future to cover our indebtedness. With the 
debt properly secured we expect to dedicate our church in 
the early spring. 

At a meeting held January 3d, 1894, the Rev. Curtis 
0. Bosserman, a student in the Senior class of Princeton 
Theological Seminary and a licentiate of this Presbytery, 
was given a unanimous call. Mr. Bosserman comes to us 
highly recommended by his Professors, and our people are 
ready and anxious to labor with him in the upbuilding of 
the Master's kingdom. 

With a new and modern church building, a united and 
working congregation, a live Sabbath-school, having a 
good circulating library, a consecrated Christian Endeavor 
Society, a well organized and thoroughly equipped Ladies' 
Aid Society, a strong choir, and a talented and consecrated 
minister, we anticipate, and pray for, a bright future for 
Covenant Church. 

The President of the Evening. On the first Sabbath 
of February, 1873, under the auspices of the Market Square 
and Pine Street Churches, with Doctors Robinson and 
Strong at their head, mission work was undertaken in 
Harrisburg. Services were held in the evening in a room 
at the market-house on Broad street and in the morning in 
the Chapel at Lochiel. In the following June an organiza- 
tion was effected in the upper part of the city. That is just 
twenty-one years ago, and the church is of age, and, there- 



176 



Centennial Memorial. 



fore, can speak for itself in the person of its present pastor, 
Rev. George S. Duncan. 

Address by Rev. George S. Duncan. 

The Westminster Church to the Market Square Church 
" which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ : 
Grace be unto you, and peace from God our Father and the 
Lord Jesus Christ." We remember " without ceasing your 
work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in 
our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father." 
As you enter the second century of your history, " may the 
Lord bless thee and keep thee ; may the Lord make his 
face shine upon thee ; may the Lord lift up his countenance 
upon thee, and give thee peace." Amen. 

It seems fitting on this Centennial occasion that a brief 
history of the Westminster Church should be given. Its 
organization was due to the joint efforts of the Pine Street 
and Market Square Churches. In the year 1866 there is said 
to have been but one church above North street in this city. 
It was felt by many that some form of Christian work 
should be done in the northwest portion of the town. The 
population was steadily growing year by year and there 
were no churches in the community. 

The Young Men's Christian Association, in January, 
1867, organized a Sunday-school on the second floor of the 
stone market hall on Broad street. The officers and 
teachers were mostly young men, members of the Associa- 
tion. The Sunday-school was undenominational. There 
were about twenty-five present at the first session. The 
first superintendent was Mr. J. Samuel Detweiler, now a 



Address by Rev. George S. Duncan. 



177 



minister of the Lutheran Church. The school steadily 
grew in numbers and others, both young men and women, 
joined the number of workers. The quarters then occupied 
were found to be wholly too small and the public school 
house on the corner of Second and Broad streets was 
rented. The Sunday-school now had about one hundred 
and fifty scholars. Mr. John A. Borland was the second 
superintendent. This place also was soon found to be 
insufficient to seat the members of this growing school. 
Another flitting took place to the public school building at 
126 Broad street. Here the Sunday-school numbered about 
three hundred scholars. The third superintendent was 
Mr. Walter F. Fahnestock, Sr., a member of Market Square 
Church. He was succeeded by Mr. Martin Stutzman. 

Both churches felt that a Presbyterian church was 
needed in this portion of Harrisburg, and at once took 
measures to provide for preaching services. My beloved 
predecessor in the Westminster pastorate, the Rev. William 
A. West, was called to the work, and began his labors on 
the evening of February 2d, 1873. At this first preaching 
service there were about seven adults and a dozen of mission 
school boys. The preaching service was held every Sunday 
evening in the rooms of the market hall. At a meeting of 
the Presbytery of Carlisle held in Newville on June 10th, 
1873, a paper signed by forty-seven persons residing in 
West Harrisburg was presented, asking the appointment of 
a committee to visit the field and organize a church if the 
way be clear. The request was granted, and Rev. Addison 
K. Strong, D. D., Rev. Thomas H. Robinson, D. D., Rev. 
Charles A. Wyeth, with Ruling Elders James McCormick, 



178 



Centennial Memorial. 



John A. Weir and John Curwen were appointed a com- 
mittee. The committee met on Thursday evening, June 
19th, 1873, in the rooms over the old Market Hall, and 
after appropriate religious services proceeded to organize a 
church in the usual manner. Thirty-one persons were 
enrolled on certificate from other churches, and four were 
received on profession of their faith. Four elders were 
elected, namely, John L. Crist, Robert Trotter, William 
Jones and John E. Patterson. These were ordained on Sep- 
tember 25th. 

At a congregational meeting held on September 11th the 
name Westminster Presbyterian Church was adopted. The 
first communion service was held on September 28th. The 
need of a church edifice was keenly felt if the congregation 
was to prosper. A plot of ground on the northeast corner 
of Reily and Green streets was donated by Miss Rebecca L. 
Reily, a member of Market Square Church. Here a two- 
story brick chapel, thirty-three by seventy-three feet, was 
erected in the summer of 1874. After worshiping for one 
year and nine months in the old market hall rooms, the 
congregation moved into their new building, which was 
formally opened on the evening of October 27, 1874. Here 
the congregation and Sunday-school steadily grew in 
numbers. 

Rev. William A. West resigned his charge at Westminster 
at the spring meeting of Presbytery in 1890. Immediately 
thereafter the present pastor, Rev. George S. Duncan, was 
called to and accepted the pastorate. His installation took 
place on the evening of July 1, 1890. It soon became evi- 
dent that if the work was to prosper a large and attractive 



Address by Rev. George S. Duncom. 



179 



church building was necessary. At the annual congrega- 
tional meeting in February, 1892, it was unanimously 
decided to take steps for the erection of a new church build- 
ing. The designs submitted by Charles W. Bolton, of 
Philadelphia, were accepted and work on the new edifice 
was begun in August, 1892. The corner-stone was laid on 
November 26, 1892, when all the Presbyterian ministers 
took part in the services. The work has gone on ever since 
and in a few weeks the church will be completed. The 
dedication services will be held in May. The edifice is of 
undressed brown stone from the Walton quarries at Hum- 
melstown and built in the Gothic st} le of architecture. The 
main audience room will seat 1,200 people, including the 
gallery, which is entered by two large stairways. Back of 
the pulpit is the choir and organ chamber, which is enclosed 
with a handsome arcade. The floor slopes toward the 
pulpit and the seats are arranged in arcs of circles. The 
audience room will be finished in oak. To the right of the 
preacher standing in the pulpit is the Sunday-school build- 
ing, all of which can be thrown into full view of the pulpit 
by opening roller blinds. The first floor has a main Sun- 
day-school room, infant room, two class rooms and a library. 
There is also a gallery with four class room, all of which 
can be thrown into the main room when occasion requires. 
The basement under the Sunday-school room will be fitted 
up with a kitchen, dining room and a reading room, to be 
open every evening. When the new building is completed 
a new era will dawn for the congregation, for the work, 
heretofore for lack of room, has been very much crippled. 
The growth of the city in the northwest end of Harrisburg 



180 



Centennial Memorial 



will also be a most important factor in the success of the 
church. 

Every department of the church is in a most flourishing 
condition. The ruling elders are John E. Patterson, William 
Jones, David R. Elder, J. Wallace Elder and John E. 
Daniel. The trustees are Harry Miller, J. Nelson Clark, W. 
S. Black, M. G. Baker, George E. Hackett, A. B. Tack, Wm. 
A. Moorehead. 

' The President of the Evening. The Olivet Church in 
East Harrisburg is the youngest of the family of Presby- 
terian churches, and it is an important field that they 
occupy. We trust it has a future of great usefulness and 
of great prosperity. The pastor, Mr. William P. Patterson, 
will give a sketch of that church. 

Address by Pev. William P. Patterson. 

Mr. Chairman, Brethren and Friends of the Market 
Square Church : I esteem it a privilege to represent, as I 
do to-night, the little church upon Allison's Hill; and I 
wish to say in the very beginning of my remarks that, in 
the offering of the very hearty congratulations of this most 
joyous Centennial season, the pastor, officers and members 
of the Olivet congregation desire to have no small share. 

We join with the entire Presbyterian community in ren- 
dering sincere thanks to an all-good and gracious God, that 
this anniversary occasion is permitted to transpire ; and we 
would praise Him, with heart and voice, for His favor dur- 
ing these two jubilees of years, and for the rare success, in 
His cause, He has enabled His people to achieve. We are 
deeply impressed with the fact that here a church of Jesus 



Address by Rev. William P. Patterson. 181 

Christ, a congregation in our beloved communion, has been 
drawn together to engage in the pure worship of Almighty 
God for the space of a century. We think of the hundreds 
of Sabbaths in that century, of the heavenly atmosphere 
encompassing the people of God as, obedient to the divine 
command, they have assembled to reverence Him, and to 
seek His guidance and blessing in the varied walks of the 
daily life. 

We rejoice greatly in the amount of truth, profitable for 
doctrine, for reproof, and for instruction in righteousness, 
which has been proclaimed in the thousands of sermons 
and other religious discourses delivered here. Hallowed 
spot, verily where the voice of instruction, of admonition, of 
comfort, and of peace has been so long heard ! 

And with what an atmosphere of prayer are we sur- 
rounded to-night! Can it be that the prayers of God's 
people spend their force in the moment of their utterance 
at the throne of grace? It can not be. We believe, and 
truly, that their influence avails not only in securing pres- 
ent benefits, but also those for the days to come — their 
influence extends far into the future. Hence, the place 
whereon we stand is holy ground, consecrated by the agon- 
izing, earnest, trustful petitions of our spiritual ancestors. 

We think of the many times in which the command of 
love has been here obeyed — times when the followers of the 
Redeemer have delighted to draw near the sacramental 
feast, and to receive in faith the bread and the cup, emblem- 
atic of a Saviour's broken body and shed blood. They are 
not with us now in the body, it is true, but have passed 
joyfully and triumphantly into the better land, where they 



182 



Centennial Memorial. 



are enjoying the marriage supper of the lamb — neverthe- 
less, as often as we ourselves are privileged to partake of the 
sweet memorials of love, we do indeed realize the com- 
munion of the saints, we feel as if drawn into special fellow- 
ship with those who have gone before. 

How enrapturing the thought, that the time is rapidly 
approaching when the entire sacramental host, the redeemed 
of God, who have met here and elsewhere to worship God 
even with the imperfections of our human nature, shall be 
gathered in the temple not made with hands, there to unite 
in the thrilling anthem of that service in which they rest 
not, day nor night, praising God ! 

Olivet Church, as is well known, is the youngest in the 
Presbyterian family of churches in Harrisburg. Availing 
myself of the historical material at hand, I may be allowed 
to note briefly the origin of the infant congregation, and 
something of the work already accomplished within its 
bounds. 

Referring, then, first of all, to the Year Book of the 
Market Square Church for the year 1888, I find it stated, 
that of two important movements of which this venerable 
church was already interested, one was the fostering of a 
Presbyterian enterprise on Allison's Hill, and that the Pine 
Street Church shared largely in such interest and care. On 
Tuesday, 22d November, 1887, the Presbyterians residing 
on Allison's Hill organized a Presbyterian association and 
inaugurated a prayermeeting. The secretary of that asso- 
ciation, writing in the December issue of The Church and 
Home, just one month following the starting of the prayer- 
meeting, says with deep significance, " we feel that the first 



Address by Rev. William P. Patterson. 183 

month's experience of this meeting reveals that it is needed 
and enjoyed by the people in this portion of the city. Such 
is our distance from our churches it is with difficulty that 
any of us can attend the Wednesday evening meetings, and 
some of us are utterly unable to do so. This meeting gives 
us a weekly prayermeeting which we all felt we needed. 
May we be blest in this effort to do for ourselves, and the 
portion of the city in which we live. We desire the prayers 
of the members for our prosperity." If any justification 
for such a movement were required, we surely have it in 
this utterance, and it might well have secured for the 
new movement the perpetual sympathetic interest of those 
whose prayers are here so eagerly craved. 

Not quite a year later we find that the association and 
prayermeeting, so auspiciously begun, no longer capable 
of being accommodated in the homes on the hill, has 
developed into a flourishing Sabbath-school, and obliged to 
take refuge in a church building on Derry and Kittatinny 
streets, providentially offering itself at the time. That is 
to say, on the 14th of October, 1888, in the church building 
referred to, a Sabbath-school was duly organized under the 
name of the Olivet Presbyterian Sabbath-school. The 
school was organized with eighty-two scholars, fourteen 
teachers and six officers. At the organization there were 
present Revs. George B. Stewart, D. D., Geo. S. Chambers, 
D. D., and W. H. Logan, Presbyterial missionary, all of 
whom spoke encouragingly to the school, and wished the 
organizers of the new movement God's blessing. 

From this point onward, in addition to the invariable 
prayer service of each Tuesday evening, the occasional 



184 



Centennial Memorial. 



preaching of the Word was enjoyed. The entire work was 
a union movement of the Market Square and Pine Street 
Churches, and under the direction and control of a joint 
committee from the two Sessions. So pronounced was the 
growth of this new enterprise in the few months following, 
that on Sabbath, May 19th, 1889, Mr. Robert Cochran, of 
the Western Theological Seminary, at Allegheny, on invita- 
tion, took charge of the work, the Sabbath-school, which 
had been organized with only eighty-two members, having 
increased about ninety-three per cent. 

It may be mentioned here, parenthetically, as an inter- 
esting item in this history, that Governor James A. Beaver 
had become very deeply concerned in the success of the 
young enterprise, and was now conducting an adult Bible 
class of thirty-five persons, who had banded themselves 
together for the purpose of benevolent operations among 
the poor, and also to assist in bringing adults and children 
into the Sabbath-school. The Bible-class work which 
Governor Beaver thus began is now very energetically con- 
tinued by Mr. A. C. Stamm. 

In July of this year we find the Sabbath-school number- 
ing two hundred and fifty-one scholars, of whom between 
seventy-five and one hundred are in the Primary depart- 
ment ; and so crowded are the quarters, that it is determined 
to erect a building at the rear of the church and connect 
with it for the better accommodation of the Bible and 
Primary classes. With the cordial assistance of interested 
friends that object was attained. In August of the same 
year a petition for an independent church organization was 
circulated and was signed by one hundred and thirty-nine 




Olivet Presbyterian Church. 

Derry and Kittatinny Streets. 



Address by Rev. William P. Patterson. 



185 



persons, forty-five of whom signified their intention of 
becoming communicant members, should the church be 
organized. Governor Beaver was one of the signers and 
became a member and also a ruling elder in the new organ- 
ization. That petition was presented to the Presbytery of 
of Carlisle, at its meeting in Duncannon on the 8th of 
October, 1889, was carefully considered and allowed, a com- 
mittee of Presbytery being appointed to constitute the 
desired church, if the way should appear clear. The com- 
mittee raised for this purpose consisted of Revs. George S. 
Chambers, D. D., George B. Stewart, D. D., Ebenezer 
Erskine, D. D., and Messrs. Francis Jordan and S. J. M. 
McCarrell. On Tuesday, 15th October, 1889, at 7.30 p. m., 
after proper publication of the matter, this committee 
accomplished the object for which it had been named. In 
the organization of Olivet Presbyterian Church the Rev. Dr 
Chambers preached the sermon, the Rev. Dr. Erskine con- 
ducted the ordination of the eiders then elected, and the 
Rev. Dr. Stewart made a brief address to the new church. 
Governor James A. Beaver, William S. Shaffer, Jacob K. 
Walker and Charles C. Steel were chosen and set apart to 
the office of ruling elder. Since then Governor Beaver and 
Charles C. Steel have retired from the Session and church, 
removing from the city, and Abram L. Groff and Alexander 
Adams have succeeded them. 

In June of 1890 Mr. Robert Cochran was formally called 
to the pastorate of the church and labored in the parish 
until, at his own request, he was released in August of 1892. 
The record of the church-life and work for this entire 
period, making due allowance for the difficulties and com- 



186 



Centennial Memorial. 



parative lack of resources incident to most new enterprises, 
is encouraging in a marked degree. Down to the retire- 
ment of Mr. Cochran from the pastoral oversight of the 
church, fifty-seven were admitted to membership on pro- 
fession of their faith in Christ, and sixty-one by letters of 
dismissal from sister churches. The sum of $339.00 was 
contributed for benevolent purposes, and $4,306.00 for con- 
gregational uses, and $140.00 for miscellaneous objects. 

In October of 1892 the present minister was called and, 
having accepted the call and entered at once upon the 
duties of the pastorate, was installed on Tuesday evening, 
10th of January, 1893, the Rev. Dr. Chambers preaching 
the sermon, the Rev. Dr. Stewart charging the pastor and 
the Rev. David M. Skilling charging the people. Of the 
history of Olivet Church since the beginning of this second 
pastorate let others speak. I only desire, in closing my 
remarks, to express the conviction that, from the standpoint 
of organization at least, there can be but one judgment as 
to the promise for the future. Never before have there been 
brighter prospects of usefulness and of encouraging results 
in the justly-to-be-desired establishment of our common 
Presbyterianism on Allison's Hill. The field of operations 
is both large and interesting. We need, it is true, both 
friends and money, but given these plus the willing hearts 
and means already consecrated on the field, the issue can 
never be doubtful. 

Grateful for what this venerable and beloved church has 
been divinely empowered to accomplish in the promotion 
of Christ's kingdom, and in the extension of Presbyte- 
rianism in this city during the century just closed, and fully 



Address by Rev. William P. Patterson. 187 



appreciating the bright, hopeful outlook into the century 
just opening, we lift our hearts to our common Lord and 
Father, praying that he may be with you alway, and may 
bless you exceeding abundantly above all that your hearts 
can ask or think. 

At the conclusion of Mr. Patterson's address Rev. Mr. 
West led in prayer, and then announced hymn No. 639, 
verses 1, 3. 

Chorus — Shout the glad tidings, exultingly sing ; 

Jerusalem triumphs, Messiah is King. 

1. Zion, the marvelous story be telling, 

The Son of the Highest, how lowly his birth ; 

The brightest archangel in glory excelling, 

He stoops to redeem thee, He reigns upon earth. 

Chorus — Shout the glad, etc. 

Chorus— Shout the glad, etc. 

3. Mortals, your homage be gratefully bringing, 
And sweet let the gladsome hosanna arise ; 

Ye angels, the full hallelujah be singing ; 

One chorus resound through the earth and the skies. 

Chorus — Shout the glad, etc. 

After the Benediction by Mr. West, and Mr. Crozier's 
organ postlude, Guilmant's chorus in D Minor, the audience 
dispersed. Though in the nature of the case the exercises 
w T ere unusually long, they were yet of unusual interest, and 
the attention of the large audience was unrelaxed through- 
out the whole service. 



THUESDAY EVENING, 

February the 15th, 1894., at 7.30 o'clock. 



Historical Evening, 
This was the indispensable evening of the week. The 
other services, delightful as they were and appropriate, were 
yet not essential. In this evening centered the significance 
of the whole celebration. This fact raised the expectations 
of the large audience to the highest point. They came 
anticipating a rare treat and they were not disappointed. 
The occasion justified the high hopes of all concerned. The 
Minister of the church was requested by the Centennial 
Committee to preside at this meeting. The service was 
introduced by Mackenzie's " Benedictus," a quiet and tender 
prelude, which harmonized with the memories evoked by 
the occasion. The Minister led the congregation in repeat- 
ing the Apostle's Creed, the foundation faith of the Church. 
The Rev. I. Potter Hayes, pastor of the Presbyterian Church 
Wrightsville, Pa., and formerly pastor of the Covenant 
Presbyterian Church of this city, led the congregation in 
prayer. Rev. Dr. George S. Chambers announced hymn 
No. 435, verses 1, 2, 3, 5. 

Our God, our help in ages past, 

Our hope for years to come, 
Our shelter from the stormy blast, 

And our eternal home ! 



190 



Centennial Memorial. 



Before the hills in order stood, 

Or earth received her frame, 
From everlasting thou art God, 

To endless years the same. 

A thousand ages in thy sight 

Are like an evening gone, 
Short as the watch that ends the night 

Before the rising dawn. 

Our God, our help in ages past, 

Our hope for years to come ! 
Be thou our guard while troubles last, 

And our eternal home. 

Rev. John L. McKeehan, M. D., pastor of the Steelton 
Presbyterian Church, read the Scripture lesson, Psalm 
89 : 1-11. At the conclusion of the Scripture lesson the 
choir sang the " Hallelujah Chorus " from Handel's " Mes- 
siah." As the first notes of this inspiring chorus came from 
the well trained voices the large audience rose as by a 
common impulse, and remained standing until the last 
notes of the holy praise died away. 

The President of the Evening. This evening is the 
jewel of this week. All that has gone before and that 
which is to come after is the setting, resplendent and full of 
delight, but still the setting. It is this night that gives 
significance to, and justification of, all others. We are cele- 
brating the centenary of our church, and we are met 
to-night to hear the story of an hundred years of endeavor, 
of struggle, of trial and of achievement; and we are to hear it 
from one than whom there is none better to tell us the story, 
nor more competent to give us the correct interpretation 
thereof. And aside from this, there is a peculiarly tender and 



Historical Evening. 



191 



significant reason why he should be invited to narrate this 
history. He himself was an actor in much of it, bearing 
his part nobly and well for thirty years, and for the last 
ten years he has been a spectator, interested and closely 
associated with the events as they have transpired. He is 
bound to many in this audience by ties most tender. Your 
thoughts to-night will follow his words as he tells you the 
story of your ancestors and of yourselves. Before I give 
place to him, I feel that in all sincerity I ought to say what 
I am delighted to take the occasion to say, that since I have 
been his successor in the pastoral office of this church he 
has proved himself to be my wisest counsellor and my 
firmest friend. The delight of serving you has been intensi- 
fied by the delight of following him. I have learned the 
reason of your love for him, and I desire to be enrolled in 
that great company whose hearts are entwined around his 
and whose lives are made richer, purer, better by having 
learned to love him. I could have been treated in no more 
cordial, helpful, fraternal manner than I have been by Dr. 
Robinson. I bear this testimony that the century which is 
to follow, may know, if it cares to know, that I love him 
with all my heart, as you did, and still do. Dr. Robinson 
will now speak to us upon the history of the church for 
an hundred years, entitling his theme " A Century Plant." 



A CENTURY PLANT.' 



By Rev. THOMAS H. ROBINSON, D. D. 



Now go write it before them on a tablet, and inscribe it in a book, 
that it may be for the time to come forever and ever. — Isaiah, xxx. 8. 

Walter Scott has very touchingly told us of Old Mor- 
tality, a religious itinerant of his times. He was first dis- 
covered in the burial ground of the Parish of Gaudercleugh. 
It was his custom to pass from one graveyard to another, 
and with the patient chisel of the engraver clear away the 
moss from the grey tombstones, and restore the names and 
the lines that Time's finger had well nigh effaced. It 
mattered little to him whether it was the headstone of some 
early martyr to the faith, or only love's memorial to some 
little child. It was his joy to do the quiet and unbidden 
work of bringing again to the notice of men the history and 
the heroism of some of God's nobility of whom the world 
was not worthy, nor less to honor the unknown ones who 
were laid to rest with unseen tears. 

Our work to-day bears something of the same character. 
Like Old Mortality, we step softly and reverently among 
the graves of the past. Chisel in hand we pass from memory 
to memory. We clear away the gathered moss. We re- 
furnish the ancient stones and read again the names of the 
departed, dropping here and there a tear as precious mem- 
ories are awakened, and reminding ourselves anew of a 
fellowship that is only interrupted for a little time. The 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 193 

past is ours. We are its heirs. Its good comes down to us 
in an apostolic succession of benedictions. The links that 
bind us to past days and years are golden links. It is one 
of the choicest gifts of grace, that we may at the same time 
live three lives in one. Past memories and present ex- 
periences and future hopes do blend to make human life 
noble and attractive. Our holy faith commemorates the 
past, gladdens the present and brightens the future. 

We stand to-day at the close of an hundred years. We 
stand also at the beginning of another hundred years. This 
Church is to-day one of the Century Plants in the earthly 
garden of our Lord. It has taken a century to grow to 
what it now is and a century to do the work that it has 
done. A mighty forest tree is what the revolving years, it 
may be the added centuries have made it. Day and night, 
sunshine and rain, seasons coming and seasons going, gentle 
winds and stormy blasts, the soil, the atmosphere, a thou- 
sand things have been conspiring in a happy partnership to 
lift that mighty trunk towards the sky. So with ourselves. 
No man creates himself. No man begins his own work. 
The roots of our being run back into the past generations. 
Our work began before we were born. Other hands laid 
the foundations on which we are building. So with a 
Church. Many workers toil in its uplifting. The men of 
to-day are carrying on and carrying out what others be- 
gun. There is a succession and dependence in all the 
labors of men. The generations reap the fields their fore- 
fathers sowed. The knowledge, the wisdom, the power, the 
numbers, the religious faith, which any Church of to-day 
possesses are largely a transmission from the past. It has 



194 



Centennial Memorial. 



been handed down, each generation retaining what it re- 
ceived from its predecessor and adding to the general stock 
for the benefit of coming ages. We are debtors to the past. 
The social, the political, the moral and the religious riches 
we are enjoying have been slowly accumulating. Other 
men prepared the way for our era of light and liberty. 
Other men who left no name behind them, helped to 
build our large estates of science, of art, of freedom and 
religion. It is because before us there were preachers of 
righteousness, and lovers of truth, men who were fearless 
against wrong and enamored of goodness, it is because we 
had fathers in the olden time who had patience and courage 
to work on for the better times that were to come to their 
children, that we now find the world getting ready for the 
Christ age. 

We may well recall with gratefulness the history that 
leads us up to the present. We cannot, indeed rehearse all 
they were, nor all they did, who bequeathed to us our 
heritage. It will be all that we dare to hope, if we give a 
little life and vividness to our ancestral records. 

One hundred years carry us back to seventeen hundred 
and ninety-four, the date of organized Presbyterianism, as 
a Church, on this spot. How changed the scene from that 
upon which we look to-day ! The broad river with its 
beautiful islands, the wooded ranges of the Kittatinny 
rising like a protecting rampart, the glorious sunset and 
the overarching sky were here, but all else, how different. 
Large forest trees were standing upon the greater part of 
the ground now occupied by the city. The hills back of us 
were covered by the forests. Rugged country roads led to 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 195 

and from the little hamlet that gathered around the ferry 
across the river. The town began its growth from the 
region about the junction of Paxton and Front streets and 
from thence extended up the river and up the hill, with a 
width of but two or three streets. The little village of from 
one hundred to one hundred and twenty houses had been 
incorporated into a borough in 1785, nine years before, and 
had been named Harrisburg after its founder. Its dwellings 
were scattered somewhat irregularly below the place on 
which this Church stands. Very few houses were to be 
found above Market street or beyond Third. Leaving the 
corner of Market square from the door of this Church, one 
might pass down Second street then ungraded, and with 
quite a steep descent from Chestnut street to Paxton creek, 
thence out Paxton street to Front and up Front to Market 
street and to the point of starting, and he will have marched 
around the greater part of the town. In a small room of a log 
house which stood near the corner of Front and Vine streets, 
the first courts for the new County of Dauphin were held ; 
and a short distance from this primitive court house stood 
the Pillory, a noted instrument of public justice in those 
days. The large stone house on Front street and Wash- 
ington, the residence of the late General Simon Cameron, 
had been erected by John Harris the founder of the town 
in 1766, nearly thirty years earlier. It is one hundred and 
twenty-eight years old and bids fair to see the close of the 
twentieth century. There was in the town a population of 
a few hundreds. Families that were prominent in the 
organization of this Church had been resident here for some 
years. It was a mixed population consisting mainly of the 



196 



Centennial Memorial. 



Scotch-Irish and German people, with a few families of 
direct English descent. 

Of the Scotch-Irish families the following names may be 
mentioned as among the earliest residents : Moses Gilmor, 
Adam Boyd, Samuel Weir, James Murray, John Hamilton, 
James Mitchell, John Kean, Thomas Forster, William 
Graydon, James Clunie, Henry Fulton, Robert Sloan, 
Archibald McAlister, the Montgomery s, the Berry hills and 
others. 

Presbyterianism on this spot antedates by many years the 
organization of the Church. Its households were connected 
with the long prior and more venerable Church of Paxtang, 
which for more than half a century was under the pastoral 
care of the celebrated John Elder. Joined with Paxtang 
under the same pastorate for forty-eight years was the 
Church of Derry. North of Derry and Paxtang along the 
Kittatinny Mountains lay the large congregation of Hanover, 
now for many years extinct. From these three once 
flourishing congregations came the founders of the Presby- 
terian church in Harrisburg. They were mainly from 
Paxtang as this region was within the boundaries of that 
congregation. They were a people of strong and clear and 
intelligent convictions, adherents of the Westminster Con- 
fession, and the Presbyterian polity of church government. 
A long line of pious ancestry in the mother land, had 
prepared them for the trials and triumphs of their new 
pioneer homes across the sea. They were the best materials 
out of which to build a free State and a free Church. They 
were a frugal, industrious, energetic people. Hardy, rugged 
and resolute. They have left their name and their mark 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 197 

wherever they have gone. They were men of peculiar and 
marked character. In their ways of thinking, their habits 
of life, the training of their families, and their religious 
customs and modes of worship, they were clearly distinct 
from the ordinary Englishman and the German. They 
were strict in their ways, rigid in the observance of the 
Sabbath, and were the very quality of human nature out of 
which to make good and useful citizens and great men. 
They were the firm friends of education, moral, patriotic, 
liberty-loving, tyrant-hating, God-fearing. They were plain 
and simple in manners. They founded pious homes, 
orderly communities and excellent schools, and never failed 
to plant the Church of Jesus Christ wherever they settled. 
They trusted God. They held by his holy truth. They 
thoroughly believed in religion. They worked and lived 
for a better and brighter future for their descendants, and 
doubted not that when they passed away the truth would live 
on and the Kingdom of God would grow, and Christ would 
win the final and complete victory. They had their faults. 
They were not the best and saintliest men that ever lived, 
but we may heartily thank God for their sturdiness and 
their devotion to what was good and sound and true. 

A brief reference to the Church and its pastor, out of 
which this church sprung, seems to be necessary in form- 
ing a just estimate of the elements that entered into the 
early structure of the Presbyterian Church of Harrisburg. 

The parish of Rev. John Elder was a large one. It ex- 
tended along the banks of the Susquehanna from the Gap 
in the mountains at Dauphin, to the banks of the Swatara 
at Middletown, a distance of fully twenty miles. On the 



198 



Centennial Memorial. 



hill back of the village of Dauphin there stood in the early 
part of this century a small church building in which Mr. 
Elder was accustomed occasionally to preach. In width 
the parish extended back from the river to the mountain 
and to the borders of the Hanover congregation, a distance 
of from eight to twelve miles. 

Mr. Elder's pastorate commenced about thirty years after 
the first establishment of Presbyterianism in this country, 
and continued through the bitter religious controversies of 
the early history, through ravages of border warfare with 
the savage Indians and through the seven years of the 
Revolutionary conflict, and until four years after the estab- 
lishment of our present free and constitutional government 
in 1789; in brief, from 1738 to 1792, when Mr. Elder died in 
the eighty-sixth year of his age, and the sixtieth of his min- 
istry, fifty-four of which were spent at Paxtang. 

An account of Mr. Elder, given by Mr. Joseph Wallace, 
the grandfather of Judge McPherson, thus describes him. 
He was a large, fine-looking man, above six feet in height, 
well formed and proportioned, dignified in his manners, a 
fine specimen of an educated gentleman. He was beloved 
and respected by the people of his congregation and exer- 
cised a great influence for good among them. He retained, 
after his settlement in this country, the dress and manners 
of the early Scotch and Irish ministers abroad. On Sabbath 
morning he went from his dwelling, which was near the 
church, to the study, a small log building containing one 
room, which was used for the meetings of the Church Ses- 
sion, and there remained until the congregation had assem- 
bled and the time to commence service was at hand. He 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 199 

then came from the study, dressed in a gown, with a wig 
carefully powdered very white and surmounted by a small 
cocked hat. Thus attired he walked in a stately and solemn 
manner to the church door, speaking to no one, nor even 
looking at any until he had entered the pulpit and opened 
the service. He was a man of great activity in all the rela- 
tions of life, resolute, fearless, positive in his opinions, stern 
and unyielding in what he believed to be right, and ready 
to maintain his convictions at any sacrifice. He was a 
good, sound preacher of the most approved orthodoxy. He 
was a man of great courage and of indomitable force of 
will, one of the men born to rule. His influence extended 
far beyond the boundaries of his own congregations. Very 
few men acted a more conspicuous and influential part in 
the history of Central Pennsylvania for fifty years than 
did Parson Elder. His public reputation as a citizen and 
a strong leader of men is attested by his commission as a 
colonel of militia during the stornry times of the Indian 
wars. It was under such a leader of men that the fathers 
of this church were trained. Nor should it be omitted from 
this sketch that some of the early as well as later members 
of the church were from the " Old Hanover " congregation, 
where they had been under the instructions of the sound 
and wise and devoted James Snodgrass, pastor of that 
church, from 1788 to 1846, a period of fifty-eight years. 

After the borough was constituted and named, and made 
the seat of county government, the population iu creased 
more rapidly. Owing to the distance and the difficulties of 
travel, the Presbyterians of the town found it inconvenient 
to attend the religious services at Paxtang where they held 



200 



Centennial Memorial. 



their church membership. Many of them were tradesmen 
and mechanics and must find their way thither on foot 
and in all sorts of weather. The people were strongly 
attached to Mr. Elder, and were unwilling for a long time 
to sever their connection with him. But after the close of 
the Revolutionary war, in the fall of 1782, and the return 
of the people to habits of peaceful life, movements began 
towards an organization in the town. Mr. Elder was draw- 
ing near eighty years of age and becoming too infirm to 
meet the wants of so large a parish. Many ineffectual 
attempts were made to obtain Mr. Elder's consent to have 
occasional preaching by other ministers in Harrisburg. 
The attachments of more than half a century joined to 
the tenacity of old age made it impossible for him to 
consent to measures that looked towards the separation 
of the people of Harrisburg from his flock. He desired 
them to abide as they were until after his death. Some of 
the best of his people were in the town. He was jealous of 
all intrusions of neighboring ministers into his parish. The 
pastor at Silvers' Spring for many years was the Rev. John 
Hoge. He seems to have preached in Harrisburg without 
any invitation from Mr. Elder. It was regarded as a 
discourtesy and an offense. Mr. Elder made complaint 
to the Presbytery for redress, saying that a " certain hog 
had been rooting in his grounds," giving the pronun- 
ciation to his name that was common at the time. 

It is a matter of tradition that the first sermon preached 
in Harrisburg, was given by the Rev. Joseph Montgomery, a 
Presbyterian minister who had been appointed the Register 
and Recorder of the county, by Gov. Mifflin. It is said to 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 201 

have been preached on a pleasant Sabbath afternoon in 
June, on the lot at the corner of Second street and Cherry 
alley, upon which the original Presbyterian church of the 
town was subsequently erected. The people of the place 
assembled in the open air and were sheltered from the sun 
by the shade of some forest trees that were standing and the 
apple trees of an orchard planted on the spot. It is how- 
ever wholly improbable that Mr. Montgomery's sermon 
was the first one preached in a community whose origin 
dated back beyond that time for nearly half a century. Mr. 
Elder had probably often preached in the little community 
using the dwellings of his parishoners for the service. 
Neighboring ministers of the Presbytery, and occasional 
travelling ministers, had doubtless often preached, using 
private houses for the purpose of holding service out of 
doors. 

In October, 1786, a petition was presented in the Presby- 
tery of Carlisle from Harrisburg and the parts adjacent 
requesting that the people be erected into a congregation 
and be allowed to have a place of worship in the town, and 
to have supplies appointed to them. Owing to the absence 
of Mr. Elder no action was taken on these requests. 

In April 1787, the Presbytery met at Carlisle The 
following account is taken from the record of that meeting : 

"A representation and a petition of a number of the 
inhabitants of Harrisburg and others in the township of 
Paxton was laid before the Presbytery and read. The said 
representation sets forth that these people desire to be con- 
sidered as a Presbyterian congregation and to have supplies 
appointed them by the Presbytery : and that in order to 



202 



Centennial Memorial. 



promote peace and harmony between them and the Paxton 
congregation, some proposals had been made to, and con- 
sidered by, though not accepted by that Congregation, a 
copy of which was laid before Presbytery." 

Mr. Elder gave a representation of the case as concerning 
those people and the Paxtang congregation. The Presby- 
tery upon consideration of the case agreed to propose the 
following articles to the consideration and acceptance of 
these people which may have a tendency to preserve peace 
and union in that part of the church : 

I. That Harrisburg shall be considered as the seat of a 
Presbyterian church, and a part of the charge of Rev. John 
Elder, in which he is to preach one-third of his time. 

II. That Mr. Elder's salary promised by the Paxtang con- 
gregation shall be continued and paid by the congregation 
in common who adhere to these two places of worship. 

III. That the congregation thus united may apply for 
and obtain supplies as assistant to the labors of Mr. Elder, 
to be paid by the congregation in common. 

IV. That when the congregation may judge it proper, 
they shall have a right to choose and call a minister as a 
colleague to Mr. Elder to officiate in rotation with him. 

Rev. Dr. Davidson, of Carlisle, President of Dickinson 
College, and Rev. Mr. Waugh, pastor of Silvers' Spring, were 
appointed a committee to attend at the church in Lower 
Paxton to moderate a meeting and assist in the matter. 

At a meeting of the Presbytery held in June, 1787, Dr. 
Davidson and Mr. Waugh reported that the following 
articles had been agreed to by Mr. Elder and by the united 
congregation of Paxtang and Harrisburg : 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 203 

I. That the congregation shall have two stated places of 
public worship, the one where Mr. Elder now officiates, the 
other in Harrisburg. 

II. That the Rev. John Elder shall have and continue to 
receive during his life or incumbency, all the salary or 
stipends that he now enjoys, to be paid by his present sub- 
scribers as he and they may agree, and continue his labors 
in Deny as usual. 

III. That for the present the congregation may apply to 
the Presbytery for supplies, which, when obtained, the 
expense shall be defrayed by those who do not now belong 
to Mr. Elder's congregation, and such as may think proper 
to join with them ; and should such supplies be appointed 
when Mr. Elder is to be in Paxtang, then he and the person 
are to preach in rotation, the one in the country and the 
other in the town ; but should Mr. Elder be in Derry, then 
the supplies shall officiate in the town. 

IV. That the congregation, when able, or when they 
think proper, may invite and settle any regular Presby- 
terian minister they, or a majority of them, may choose 
and can obtain as co-Pastor with Mr. Elder, who shall 
officiate as to preaching in the manner specified in the 
third proposal." 

Notwithstanding these arrangements, Mr. Elder con- 
tinued to be the sole pastor of the two congregations of 
Derry and of Paxtang, including Harrisburg, until April 
13, 1791, when the relation was dissolved. He died on 
July 17, 1792, at the venerable age of eighty-six years. 
His remains lie buried in the Paxtang graveyard. All 
honor to the memory of a sterling and stalwart man, 



204 



Centennial Memorial. 



who was conspicuous for more than a half century as 
one of the foremost men of his times. 

After Mr. Elder's death the people of Harrisburg who 
held to the Presbyterian faith began at once to take 
measures for a distinct organization. 

In an old volume belonging to the congregation, the 
following minute is found recorded in the handwriting of 
William Graydon, Esq.: 

" July 30, 1793. At a meeting of the Harrisburg 
congregation, the following persons were chosen a com- 
mittee to govern the affairs of the church, viz : Joseph 
Montgomery, Samuel Weir, Moses Gilmor, James Mitchell, 
and William Graydon." The first treasurer of the congre- 
gation, so far as can be learned from any existing records, 
was Mr. Henry Fulton, who, in 1790, gave place to Mr. 
John Kean, whose term of service continued for two years. 
How many years Mr. Fulton had served we have no means 
of ascertaining. From some loose papers containing a part 
of the treasurer's accounts we gather the names of a 
number of ministers who preached occasionally to the 
congregation prior to its organization into a church. It 
may be noted that nearly three years passed after the 
resignation of Mr. Elder before the church was organized. 
Of the men who supplied the pulpit at different times 
the following may be noted, viz : Robert Cathcart, pastor of 
the York Presbyterian Church for forty-four years; James 
Snodgrass, for fifty-seven years the pastor of the old 
Hanover church ; Samuel Waugh, pastor of the Monaghan 
and East Pennsborough churches, now known as Dillsburg 
and Silvers' Spring, for twenty-five years ; Joseph Hender- 



Nathaniel Randolph Snowden. 

1793-1805. 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 205 

son, of Great Conewago, and Colin McFarquhar, of Donegal ; 
David Denny, for nearly forty years pastor of Falling 
Springs Church, Chambersburg; Dr. Charles Nisbet, the 
distinguished President of Dickinson College ; Dr. Robert 
Davidson, also President of Dickinson College, and for 
twenty-eight years pastor of the First Church of Carlisle ; 
Dr. John Ewing, for thirty years pastor of the First Presby- 
terian Church of Philadelphia, and for twenty-three years 
at the head of the University of Pennsylvania ; Dr. Samuel 
Miller, for thirty-six years a professor in the Princeton 
Theological Seminary ; Dr. John McKnight, for twenty 
years a leading pastor in New York city, and other men 
less famous than the foregoing, but no less sound and good. 
The founders of this church enjoyed the privilege of 
occasional instruction from some of the most renowned 
men and ablest scholars in the Presbyterian church. 
The influences thus thrown about them had their bear- 
ing upon the character of the new organization. 

In the latter part of the year 1792 the united congre- 
gations of Paxtang and Harrisburg secured the services 
of Mr. Nathaniel R. Snowden, a young man who was 
preparing for the ministry under the care of the Presbytery 
of Philadelphia, and during the winter of 1792-1793, he 
preached frequently to the congregations, giving his first 
sermon here on September 9, 1792. On April 10, 1793, he 
was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Carlisle, and 
a call from the three congregations to become their pastor 
was placed in his hands, and was accepted by him. Each 
of the congregations agreed to pay fifty pounds as their 



206 



Centennial Memorial. 



part of the salary. On the 2d day of October, 1793, Mr. 
Snowden was ordained and installed as pastor. 

The Harrisburg congregation, however, was not yet a 
church. It had been kept in its minority for many years. 
But its hour had now come. In January, 1794, at a 
meeting of the Congregational Committee, it was agreed to 
call a meeting of the congregation for the purpose of 
electing five ruling elders to govern the affairs of the church 
that should then be constituted. This meeting was held 
on Tuesday, February 11th, 1794, and the five following 
persons were elected to the office of ruling elder : Samuel 
Weir, Moses Gilmor, Adam Boyd, Robert Harris and James 
Mitchell. The last two named declined to accept the office. 
On Sunday, February 16, 1794, after divine worship the 
remaining three, Messrs. Weir, Gilmor and Boyd, were 
ordained and installed, and this church became a regularly 
constituted and fully organized Presbyterian church. The 
three venerable men mentioned may be regarded as the 
fathers of the church Session, and the church had a name 
and a place among the sisterhood of Presbyterian churches 
in the earth. It was an independent organization with its 
pastor and its board of officers. It was an infant in age, 
but it was no weakling. It was made up of strong and 
intelligent men and women to whom the service of God 
was no new thing. They were trained and disciplined 
workmen. They had borne the cross for years. One of their 
elders, Moses Gilmor, had held the same office in the 
mother church of Paxtang, and all of them were men of 
large experience. The three elders were men of from forty- 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 207 

five to fifty years of age. They were no novices, nor raw 
recruits, but soldiers of many years service. 

The young pastor gave the church but one-third of his 
time, preaching in Harrisburg but twice a month, and often 
but once. This was unsatisfactory to the people, and the 
burden of so large a charge was too great for their minister. 
In October, 1795, at his request, the relation between Mr. 
Snowden and the church of Derry was dissolved by the 
Presbytery. Derry was eleven miles distant, and along the 
whole distance, and for miles beyond, the families under his 
pastoral care were scattered. The toil involved in visitation 
as well as the time required, was a heavy burden. The two 
churches of Paxtang and Harrisburg were left under his 
care. Six months later the connection between Mr. Snow- 
den and the Paxtang church was also severed by the 
. consent of both parties. Derry and Paxtang then resumed 
their old alliance of more than half a century, and the 
Harrisburg church assumed the entire support of Mr. 
Snowden, and he gave to it all his time and energies. He 
continued to serve the church until 1805, when, at his own 
request he was released from the charge, after a service of 
about twelve years and a pastorate of eleven. 

Mr. Snowden was a member of one of the oldest and most 
respectable families of Pennsylvania. Some of his descend- 
ants at the present day occupy high positions in civil and 
political life. Mr. Snowden was not a man of marked 
ability as a preacher or a scholar, but during his ministry 
here was very acceptable. A descendant of Old Paxtang 
thus testifies in regard to him : " Those of Paxtang congre- 
gation, whose memory runs back sixty years, will remember 



208 



Centennial Memorial. 



as an occasional visitant, this very worthy gentleman. In 
his sixties he looked hale and vigorous. He had grey eyes 
and a full face, and was about one hundred and sixty 
pounds in weight. His voice was strong and sonorous and 
he delivered his words with a measured deliberation." 

During the years of the first pastorate of the church, it 
had no house of worship. Through the long delay of the 
Presbyterians of the town to organize a church distinct from 
Paxtang, other denominations that were later on the ground 
and feebler in numbers and in wealth, were first in the 
organization of churches, and in the erection of a church 
edifice. 

As early as 1787, there was built by the citizens of the 
borough irrespective of denominational connections a small 
one-story log house on the northeast corner of Third and 
Walnut streets for the purpose both of worship and as a 
school building. It was used by the Lutheran and 
Reformed people for some months. The same year they 
jointly secured ground on the corner of Third and Chestnut 
streets, on the site of the present Reformed church. Here 
they built a log church fronting on Third street, the first 
church building erected in Harrisburg. It was one of the 
notable events of the time. All who were favorable to 
religion were invited to help in the enterprise, and to their 
credit be it said, all classes vied with each other in liber- 
ality and in labor. The two congregations, Lutheran and 
Reformed, for eight years worshiped together in happiest 
harmony, sharing equally in the support and government 
of the one church. It was a plain two-story building, with 
its side to the street, two windows in each story, and a door 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 209 

in the center of the side. The preaching was divided 
between the English and the German tongues. 

Meanwhile the Presbyterians were without any fixed 
abode. For a time they held service in the loft of the old 
jail that was erected soon after the borough was formed. On 
the 17th of November, 1798, an application was made by 
the congregation for permission to fit up the upper room of 
the court house as a place of worship. The request was 
granted, and the room was occupied by the church for some 
time. The accommodations were very unpretentious. 
There were no family pews, nor cushioned seats, nor 
carpeted aisles, no stained glass nor memorial windows, no 
organ loft nor grand organ. Everything was simple and 
plain. The evening services were held at " early candle 
light," and the house was lighted by tallow candles of home- 
made manufacture. No bell summoned the worshipers to 
the house of God. Hard benches greeted their coming, 
but the God of the Covenant met them and blessed them. 

In the accounts of John Kean, treasurer of that early 
period, we find some items of disbursements that speak 
clearly and pathetically of those early days : 

Paid Robert Harris for one cord of wood, ten shillings. 

Paid James McNamara for six benches for Church use, 
fifteen shillings. 

Robert Sloan is paid nine shillings, four and a half pence 
for making two boxes to take collections in. 

Paid Rev. Mr. Robinson for Presbytery, seven shillings 
and six pence. Other articles such as green baize candles, 
sconces, &c, are mentioned. 

Gustavus Graham, the first sexton receives a yearly salary 



210 



Centennial Memorial. 



of three pounds. John Sargint a sexton of later days gets 
sixteen dollars a year. Michael Rupp, furnishes twenty 
and a half pounds of stove pipe for the use of the con- 
gregation. Major William Glass is paid fifteen shillings for 
two new benches. The principal expense seems to have 
been for fuel and candles, and for the bread and wine used 
at the Sacrament of the Supper. The usual cost of a 
Sabbath's supply for the pulpit, was one pound in the 
currency of the times. One of the largest items is thus 
stated : "Paid Mr. Snowden for Missionaries to Indians, 
three pounds, seven shillings and six pence." The com- 
munion service was of pewter, and a frequent item of cost is 
for "scouring the pewter." The expenses of the congre- 
gation were met by Sabbath collections, supplemented, 
when necessary by subscriptions. These collections, prior 
to 1804 seldom rose above one pound or five dollars and 
were often not half that amount. On Sacramental Sabbaths 
the day for their largest congregations, the collections were 
twice or thrice the usual amount. To secure the amounts 
needed for the Pastor's salary and other expenses, collectors 
were appointed to visit all the families of the congregation. 
The lists of these collectors for the seven years prior to 1800 
are on record. In the year 1795, Thomas Forster, George 
Whitehill, William Graydon and Alexander Berryhill are 
appointed, the latter two to solicit subscriptions through 
Paxtang on account of the poverty of the people in the 
town. 

Baptismal ceremonies generally took place at the private 
residences of the people, at which sacred rite the friends of 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 211 

the family assembled and made the occasion one to be 
remembered. 

The contrast between those early days and our own is 
very great. Their rude, small room in the loft of a log-jail, 
their bare benches, small windows and uncarpeted floors, 
their humble pulpit desk, their flickering tallow candles 
and pewter candle sticks, and our large, costly and elegant 
churches with carpeted aisles, cushioned and comfortable 
pews, our decorated and memorial windows, our high 
sounding organs, our gas and electric lights : their poverty, 
their collections and collectors, their narrow fields for 
church work, their little grasp of the great fields of missions 
and benevolence, and our rich and active and liberal 
Church of to-day, that feels that it must clasp the whole 
wide world in its arms and to its heart of love : their scanty 
literature, their narrow outlook, their meagre arts and 
sciences and inventions, their social world, their catechisings 
of the old and young in all their households, and our 
abounding literature in books and magazines and daily and 
weekly press, our multiplied agencies of benevolence for the 
round earth, our art and inventions : their plain home 
spun dress, simple manners, rugged, but friendly speech, 
and our manners, speech and dress molded by society and 
culture — these and a hundred other things serve to show 
what changes the Providence of God, and the progress of 
the times have made. We cannot decry the past. We 
have built upon its foundations. We cannot exult over 
to-day. God mold's the ages for himself. Our fathers 
had their noble work and we have ours. They met their 
mission. They believed in God. They studied his law. 



212 



Centennial Memorial. 



They prayed and worked for the coming and broader times 
of Christ's kingdom. Wider, deeper, stronger than they 
knew were the foundations at which they set their hands. 
It remains to us in these richer times to carry on their work. 

The next important step in the history of the congrega- 
tion was that of providing for themselves a house of wor- 
ship. The means taken would not be sanctioned in our 
day, but we must bear in mind that the course pursued was, 
at that day, neither legally forbidden nor morally con- 
demned. It was in accordance with the customs of the 
times. Our fathers were poor. They determined to raise 
the needed funds for church building by a lottery. We are 
not aware that there was any opposition to the plan. At 
the close of the last century the finances of the entire coun- 
try were in a desperate and dilapidated condition. Every- 
body was in debt. Money was in great demand. Credit 
everywhere was at the lowest ebb. To raise money lotteries 
sprung up as mushrooms in every direction. A lottery 
wheel might have been found in every city and in every 
town and village that were large enough to need some 
public improvement. If a bridge was to be built across 
some little stream, a school-house to be erected, a jail to be 
provided for criminals, a street to be repaired, a court house 
to be enlarged, or a church to be reared, a lottery bill was 
passed by the Legislature, commissioners were appointed, a 
wheel was procured, tickets were sold, and a day for the 
drawing was set. The mania was wide spread. Massachu- 
setts sold lottery tickets to raise the money needed to pay 
the salaries of her public officials. The city of New York 
raised money by lottery to enlarge the City Hall. The 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 213 

court house of Elizabeth Cily was rebuilt, the library of 
Harvard University was increased and the Government of 
the United States erected some of its public buildings by 
lotteries. There was a mania for lotteries. They were a 
vast epidemic. Everybody seemed to be in haste to get rich 
in the foolish and criminal way of emptying the pockets of 
their fellow-men. The hope of winning prizes became a 
disease. It was amid this general use and approval of lot- 
teries and this rage for them that the founders of this 
church lived. They were swept into the current. 

During the winter of 1797-1798 an application was made 
to the Legislature for permission to raise $5,000 by lottery 
for the purpose of buying a lot, and building thereon a 
house of worship for the English Presbyterian Congregation 
of Harrisburg. In March, 1798, a law was passed appoint- 
ing Robert Harris, George Whitehill, Adam Boyd, William 
Graydon, Christian Kunkel, George Brenizer, Archibald 
McAllister and Samuel Elder commissioners for that 
purpose. The law provided that before a ticket should be 
sold the scheme should be laid before the Governor of the 
Commonwealth and be approved by him, that the commis- 
sioners should take an oath diligently and faithfully to 
perform their duties, and that at least three of them should 
attend at the drawings of each day until they were com- 
pleted. When we consider the strictness of the law, and 
the great respectability of the commissioners, who were 
charged with its execution, there can be no doubt that the 
law was rigidly observed, however much we may reprobate 
lotteries in this more enlightened age. The scheme was 
carried out and the lottery was closed on July 7, 1803. The 



214 



Centennial Memorial. 



time spent upon it, over four years, would indicate that the 
measure was not very heartily endorsed. It was not as 
successful an affair as was anticipated. Everything, how- 
ever, was done in the broad light of day. Many of the best 
people of the community were interested and bought tickets. 
The pastor of the Church was among those who drew 
prizes. Some of the prizes were thrown into the treasury of 
the Church. They were generally small and no one amassed 
wealth by the lottery. It is clear that our forefathers did 
not imagine that they were encouraging immorality by 
their action. 

On the seventh day of June, 1804, the commissioners 
having raised about five thousand dollars by the lottery, 
purchased the lot on the corner of Second street and Cherry 
alley, and soon after contracted with Messrs. William Glass, 
Peter Brua and Samuel Pool for the erection of a church 
edifice. It was ready for use in 1806, but was not formally 
dedicated until 1809. For the first twelve years in the 
history of the congregation it had no church building. The 
house now erected was a plain substantial brick structure, 
forty feet by sixty and stood with its side to the street, 
and about forty-five feet back from the pavement. It was 
two stories in height, and had two front entrances. It bore 
a striking resemblance in form and size to many of the 
fine barns that may be seen in the region about us. The 
space in front was a green sward fenced in from the street, 
and shaded by four stately lombardy poplars, a tree that 
was then greatly admired. The interior was comfortably 
arranged with large pews, built of yellow pine, but cushioned 
seats had not yet come into fashion among our hardy an- 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 215 

cestors. The builders neglected to put chimneys in the new 
house. The fire was to be in the pulpit. The congregation 
had ample light and ventilation, but in the winter no heat. 
When the cold could be endured no longer, and the expe- 
dient of foot-stoves and hot bricks failed, the old-fashioned 
ten-plate stoves were put in and the pipes were run out of 
the windows. Evening services were not often held, the 
second service being placed in the afternoon. Some years 
after the erection of the church building, the congregation 
became too large to be comfortably accommodated, and in 
] 824 a gallery was built. The church was the finest and 
most capacious one in the town. The pulpit was built on 
the east side of the house and stood upon a small but 
convenient platform. It was elevated several feet above 
the seats of the people and had a closet underneath and a 
circular dais in front. It was entered by doors that were 
kept carefully closed during divine service. From this 
pulpit many of the great lights of our denomination 
preached sound doctrine to large and intelligent audiences. 
There was neither an Episcopal nor a Methodist Church in 
the town during the earliest years of the century. The 
adherents of those forms of church order generally attended 
the Presbyterian Church until they were strong enough to 
organize churches of their own faith. The names of some 
of the founders of these churches may be found in the lists 
of early pew-holders of this Church.* The use of the 
building was often granted to these denominations and the 
pulpit was occupied by their preachers. The venerable 



* For a list of these pew-holders see Appendix, Note II. — Editor. 



216 



Centennial Memorial. 



Bishop White, of Philadelphia, accompanied by the youth- 
ful Bedell, in later years the Bishop of Ohio, preached 
in it. Rev. Dr. Bascom, one of the most celebrated orators of 
the Methodist Church and of his times, gave a sermon that 
occupied more than two hours in its delivery and was a 
magnificent specimen of pulpit oratory. 

The pastoral relation between the Church and Mr. Snow- 
den was dissolved, June 25th, 1805. An interregnum of 
four years occurred. The congregation was busy watching 
the slow uplifting of their first Church home. There was 
no cessation of public worship. Rev. Dr. Snodgrass was 
often called to preach at Sacramental occasions. Rev. Dr. 
Joshua Williams, for twenty-eight years the able and 
instructive pastor of the Big Spring Church at Newville ; 
Rev. Dr. David McConaughy the pastor for thirty-two 
years of the Churches of Upper Creek and Great Conewago 
in Adams county ; Rev. Dr. John Moody who for fifty years 
filled the pastorate of the Middle Spring Church near 
Shippensburg ; and the Rev. John Linn who for forty-three 
years was pastor of the Centre Church, on Sherman's Creek, 
Perry county, frequently preached from the pulpit of the 
Church. Mr. Linn was a preacher of great power and 
impressiveness. He w T as the pastor of my own ancestry. 
George Robinson my great grandfather being among the 
first ruling elders of the Church. 

An ancient book kept by the treasurer of the congregation 
gives quite a full financial history of the Church, its regular 
Sabbath collections, the names of the men who filled its 
pulpit, the amounts, paid them for their service, the cost 
even of keeping the horse on which they traveled from 



English Presbyterian Congregation. 

Second Street and Cherry Alley. 

ERECTED 1804-6. 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 217 

their homes, the weekly expenses and the sexton's salary. 
The old record is full of interesting reading for one of the 
present day. 

It is a matter however of deep regret that while we have 
a record of this nature, the names and salaries of the 
sextons, the cost of candles and candle sticks and benches, 
there was no record preserved, and probably none kept, 
through the first quarter of a century in the history of this 
Church of the noble men and women, who were members 
of it, who sat at its communion table, who attended its 
weekly meetings for prayer and made it a leading religious 
power in the growing community. There is no record of 
the marriages, baptisms and deaths, none of the original 
members of the Church, no list of those who were added to 
the Church during the first twenty-five years. 

To the original bench of elders, Messrs. Weir, Gilmor and 
Boyd, two others were added, John Stoner and William 
Graydon, but the date of their election and installation is 
not known. It was probably between 1809 and 1812. Of 
religious history, of revivals, of family and social life, of 
Christian work, but the barest account can be gleaned. We 
know the Church lived on and waxed stronger and stronger. 
We know their sons and daughters came into the Church 
communion. We find them there when the record opens. 
To us now, it is like a stream running underground and 
fed by numerous hidden springs, until it breaks out a 
strong, clear, cool river. 

Names we have gathered here and there from lists of 
pew-holders, from collectors' records, from the treasurers' 
accounts, and other sources, that belonged to this ancestral 



218 



Cen tennial Memoria I. 



house of ours, and they shall not be lost. Such a list of 
about three hundred names of men and of godly women, 
their fellow-workers in the gospel, is now in the possession 
of the Church. They belong to the first quarter century of 
its history.* 

During the interregnum that followed the departure of 
Rev. N. R. Snowden, a call from the Church was extended 
to Rev. William Kerr, who was a frequent preacher in 
Harrisburg during the years 1806 and 1807. For reasons 
unknown he declined to accept and became the Pastor of 
Donegal. Five of his children in later years became mem- 
bers of the Church : Dr. James W. Kerr, for many years a 
Ruling Elder in the York Presbyterian Church; William 
M. Kerr, late president of the Harrisburg National Bank; 
J. Wallace Kerr, Mrs. Herman Alricks and Mrs. Dr. Edward 
L. Orth. The last named only survives and is a resident of 
Pittsburgh. Mr. Kerr died in the early years of his ministry. 

The second Pastor of the Church was the Rev. James 
Buchanan. He preached his first sermon to the people on 
May 17, 1807, and during the rest of that year continued to 
fill the pulpit as a stated supply. He was a young man, 
not yet ordained to the ministry, but his services proved to 
be so acceptable to the congregation that he was called to be 
pastor. On September 29, 1808, he was ordained, and on 
February 13, 1809, after preaching to the congregation for 
nearly two years, he was installed. He remained in the 
pastorate until September 20, 1815, when he was released 
from the charge on account of ill health. His term of ser- 



* For this list see Appendix, Note III.— Editor. 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 219 

vice was over eight years, though as pastor he was with the 
Church between six and seven years only. At his installa- 
tion Parson Snodgrass, of Old Hanover, presided and gave 
the charge to the young pastor, and Rev. James R. Sharon, 
Pastor of Paxtang Church, preached the sermon. Mr. 
Buchanan was called on a salary of one hundred and fifty 
pounds for three-fourths of his time. The remaining fourth 
was given to a small congregation at Middle Paxton, or 
Dauphin. Fifty pounds more were given for this additional 
service. The whole two hundred pounds was in the old 
Pennsylvania currency and amounted to about five hun- 
dred dollars. After leaving this Church and recovering his 
health, Mr. Buchanan was, for twenty-one years, the greatly 
beloved Pastor of the Church in Greencastle. He died at 
Logansport, Ind., in 1843, after a ministry of over thirty-six 
years. Dr. DeWitt and others who knew him in later years 
gave descriptions of him from which we draw the following 
portrait : 

He was a man of tall form, commanding presence and 
great gravity of manner. No one could mistake either his 
character or his profession. He was neat and scrupulous in 
dress and courteous in his bearing. His grave and dignified 
manner rebuked all levity and lightness, while his real 
goodness, purity and sympathy with men attracted their 
esteem and reverence. He was universally regarded as a 
good man and a man of great force of character. His ser- 
mons were short, compact and precise, remarkably so for 
that day, when sermons were often very lengthy and diffuse. 
Few men, it has been said, could say so much as he in so 
few words. He was not regarded as an eloquent preacher, 



220 



Centennial Memorial. 



but he was a clear, able and instructive one, and his sincer- 
1 ty and deep earnestness made him very impressive. His 
discourses were prepared with great care, committed to mem- 
ory and then delivered memoriter. He had a very low esti- 
mate of his own abilities. Owing, doubtless, to a deranged 
condition of his physical system, he was nervous and subject 
to fits of depression, and at times fell into states of melan- 
choly. While at Greencastle he became so nervous and 
timid that he refused, for a time, to perform marriages even 
between members of his own congregation. The late be- 
loved elder of this Church, John A. Weir, narrated the fol- 
lowing incident in his pastorate : Having given out a hymn 
one Sabbath morning, the singers of the choir, for some 
unknown reason, neglected to sing. Mr. Buchanan closed 
the service abruptly, giving, on the following day, as the 
reason: "If the singers could not sing, the preacher could 
not preach." Mr. Buchanan was always remembered by 
this congregation as a man and a preacher who was worthy 
of highest confidence and affection. And, during his brief 
pastorate, the Church increased in numbers, intelligence 
and spiritual power. 

This brief account of the pastorate of Mr. Buchanan would 
be incomplete were it to omit one event that has resulted in 
very great blessings upon the Church in all its subsequent 
history. They may not have been publicly recognized, but 
the greatest forces in nature and in grace alike work silently 
and unseen. Some time during that pastorate, probably 
about the year 1812, the Woman's Prayermeeting of this 
Church was started. Who were its originators and early 
members is not known. No record was kept of its weekly 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 221 

meetings. It was without doubt the first prayermeeting of 
the kind in Harrisburg and, so far as known, in Central 
Pennsylvania. Those early times were not favorable to the 
Christian activity of the female members of the Church. 
There was no men's prayermeeting in existence, and when 
in subsequent years the men of the church were drawn into 
the service of public prayer, woman's voice was never to be 
heard at the altars of public prayer. This meeting of the 
Christian women has been faithfully continued for some 
eighty years. It has been a quiet but mighty power in the 
spiritual history of the Church. The numbers attending it 
have never been large, but they have been the gifted and 
consecrated women of the Church. In times of spiritual 
depression and in times alike of revival this invaluable 
gathering of devoted women has met every week at the 
mercy seat, and carried thither in their hearts of love and 
longing the interests of this Church. Many years ago, it is 
not known how far back, the meeting joined alms with their 
prayers, and at times as large a sum as one hundred and 
fifty dollars have been given by it in a year to Christ's 
cause. Every true heart will say of this meeting "Esto 
Perpetua." 



For four years after the departure of Mr. Buchanan, or 
until November 12, 1819, the Church was without a pastor 
and its pulpit was dependent upon irregular supplies. It 
did not sit down with folded hands. The history of one of 
the noblest organizations within this Church dates its origin 
in that interregnum of four years. 



222 



Centennial Memorial. 



In the year 1804 a Sunday-school was started in the city 
of New York by Divie Bethune, a member of a renowned 
family of that name. It has the credit of being the first 
Sabbath-school in America. But the honor must go farther 
back. In 1793 a Sunday-school was started in the same city 
of New York, by Katy Ferguson, a colored woman. Indeed 
as early as 1786 we hear of one established by Bishop 
Asbury, of the Methodist Church, in Hanover county, Vir- 
ginia. Little is known of it save that it was started. 

In the spring days of 1816, several earnest women in this 
little Church, without a pastor, on the banks of the Susque- 
hanna, determined to imitate the good example set else- 
where and start a Sunday-school. They do not seem to 
have met much encouragement from their husbands and 
brothers. It was wholly an undertaking of the women. 
The first meeting for organization was held August 16, 
1816, at the residence of Mrs. John Wright, then the post- 
office, No. 13 South Market Square. It was a two-story log 
house, weather boarded, and painted a dingy brown. The 
report of the meeting says that " a respectable number of 
ladies were present." There were no men in the company. 
Mrs. Richard T. Leech, the wife of a subsequent eider of the 
Church, presided, and Miss Rachel Graydon acted as Secre- 
tary. A constitution was adopted. The society was to be 
known as " a society for the encouragement and promotion 
of Learning, Morality and Religion by means of Sabbath- 
schools, at Harrisburg." The society was to be composed 
of persons of all the existing religious denominations then 
in the town. It was to be unsectarian, but it was soon found 
that none but Presbyterians were interested and active in 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 223 

it. Officers were chosen as follows : President— Mrs. Captain 
Alexander Gray don ; Vice-President — Mrs. Richard M. Crain ; 
Secretary — Miss Rachel Graydon; Treasurer — Mrs. Henry 
Hall ; Managers — Mrs. George Fisher, Miss Abigail Wyeth, 
Miss Eliza English, Mrs. R. T. Leech and Miss Catharine 
Hubley. 

By special arrangement two of them were to alternate 
each Sabbath in performing the duties of Superintendent. 
The school was opened on September 22, 1816. An equi- 
noctial storm of great violence was then prevailing, the day 
was inclement and dreary. The school met in the old 
academy building on Market street between Third and 
Fourth streets. There were present eighteen teachers and 
seventy scholars. There w r as no fire provided though the 
day was a cold one, and there were no seats for the teachers. 
They taught their classes standing and continued to do so 
during the first year. The names of the first teachers are 
given and they indicate that they, as well as the managers 
of the school, were all Presbyterians. They are all young 
ladies. Misses Juliana Fisher, Sally Hill, Sally Hanna 
[Jacobs], Rebecca Jones [Irvin-Allison], Louisa Kean [Pow- 
ers], Juliana Stoner, Mary Hanna [Tod], Mary Miller, 
Elizabeth Hubley, Mary Wyeth [McKinley], Caroline 
Henry, Catharine Brunson, Rachel Graydon, Maria Murray, 
Jane Mitchell [Dr. Thomas Whiteside], Ruth Allen [John 
Whiteside], Eliza Ziegler [Hebt], and Mary Graydon [Hub- 
bard]. Nearly all of them were in later years more w T iclely 
known in the Church and community under their married 
names. They are the leaders in the large procession of 



224 Centennial Memorial. 

Sunday-school teachers of the Presbyterian churches of this 
city for seventy-eight years. All honor to their memory. 

The names of the seventy scholars of that first day's 
session have also been preserved.* It was a mixed school, 
and made up of children. Thirty-three were white and 
thirty-seven were black. An examination of the names in- 
dicates that very few of them were from the regular families 
of the congregation. The enterprise was of a missionary 
character among the neglected and poor. Of the eighteen 
young women of this Church who took the original classes 
in this school, many in after years and down to my own 
pastorate were famous for their good works and high intelli- 
gence. It is to the honor of all concerned in the school that 

*Males, White. — Samuel Barnes, Joseph Russell, Peter Miller, John 
Young, Leonard Kline, George Geiger, James Gillespie, Charles Mc- 
Mullin, Henry Michael, John Maloney. 

Females, White. — Catharine Young [Seig], Maria Newman, Susanna 
Vance, Catharine Stahl, Susan Weaver, Catharine Stence, Elizabeth 
Over, Mary Hill, Margaret Howard, Susan Lawyer, Mary Ann 
Michael, Peggy Ely, Julia Ann Weaver, Ellen McMullin, Ann Myers, 
Ann Brestle, Ann Johnson, Mary Over, Maria Clark, Nancy Rech- 
kard, Peggy Whiting, Julia Ann McMullin, Polly Pager. 

Males, Black.— Charles Butler, Samuel Dutcher, Sam. Green, Eli 
Norwoss, David Owens, Samuel Johnston, John Payette, Henry 
Payette, George Payette, Henry Johnston, John McClintick, Wm. 
McClintick, Charles Butler, Sr., Lerin Johnston, Geo. Carr, John 
Davis, Wm. Crawford. 

Females, Black. — Rebecca Anderson, Maria Capp, Catharine Irwin, 
Nancy Smith, Eliza Dutchess, Mrs. Polk, Pannie Fayette, Charlotte 
Owens, Judith Richard, Jane Chamberlain, Mary Ann Chamberlain 
Hester Dickinson, Mary Ann Dickerson, Maria Thompson, Daphna 
Baker, Matilda Dickinson, Mary Smith, Leah Blak, Sallie Randall, 
Mary Poole.— Editor. 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 225 

# 

no miserable prejudice against classes or against color ham- 
pered the flow of their Christian charity. 

At the opening of the school a formal address was made 
by Dr. Samuel Agnew, of blessed memory, afterwards a 
Ruling Elder in the Church. And before the first year 
ends we find several men are named as General Super- 
intendents, or patrons of the school, Rev. George Lochman, 
of the Lutheran Church, Rev. F. Rauhauser, of the 
Reformed Church, Rev. James Buchanan, Dr. Agnew 
and William Gray don, of the Presbyterian Church. The 
school started bravely and soon won favor and grew 
rapidly. The first semi-annual meeting of the society was 
held in a house that stood on the spot where this Church 
now stands. It will be impossible to follow in detail the 
very interesting history of the school. New managers and 
new teachers came in to bear a hand in the work. The 
school grew rapidly. In 1818, the second year of its life, 
there were one hundred and seventy scholars enrolled. In 
this year also male teachers were added to the corps, and 
gentlemen were also permitted to become subscribers to its 
support. The women, however, held the reins of manage- 
ment and finely did their work. The receipts of the 
society in 1818 for the support of the school amounted to 
seventy dollars. This was a noble sum for those days. 
There is no intimation that during those early years there 
were any collections taken up in the classes. The report of 
the library during the first three years gives us some hints 
about the character of the teaching and expenses of the 
school. There were seventy-one books in the library. 



226 



Centennial Memorial. 



Mention is made of the following things as already owned 
or contributed by several donors whose names are given : 

Nine dozen shorter catechisms, seven dozen testaments, 
one dozen and a half of spellers, three dozen and a half of 
primers, four psalm and hymn books and thirty-four tracts. 

In 1819 the Lutheran and Reformed Churches, organized 
Sunday-schools of their own, and drew away many scholars. 
The original school now became distinctively a Presbyterian 
one. It had been under Presbyterian management and 
teaching from the outset, though in name, a union school. 
The change to three denominational schools took place 
with great harmony. The children of the Churches now 
came more freely into the Church schools. The original 
school was reduced in numbers by the exodus, but the 
number in the three schools was much greater than in the 
one. 

On the first Sunday of January, 1820, the Presbyterian 
school opened with one hundred and thirty-eight scholars, 
of whom twenty-nine were black.* A few years later the 

* The following are the names of the scholars : 

Females, White— Rose Wright, Sarah Dougherty, Rebecca Wills, 
Jane Wills, Margaret Berryhill, Catharine Clark, Sarah Curzon, Ann 
Keely, Elizabeth Nabb, Fanny Wagoner, Mary Ann Wright, Ellen 
McMullin, Mariann Capp, Emeline Armstrong, Margaret Campbell, 
Elizabeth Downing^, Ann Mucheron, Polly Thompson, Catharine 
Heickel, Mrs. W., Polly Swartz, Hannah Smith, Kitty Gilespy, Lo 
Reeves, M. Megraw, Theodosia Graydon, E. Good, Betsey Sloan, 
Mary Ann Martin, Eliza Green, Sarah Floyd, Rebecca Dubbs, Mary 
Ann McKinney, Mary Allison, Anne Adams, Eliza Waggoner, Mary 
Frazer, Maria Irwin, Matilda Kunkel. 

Males, W kite.— Solomon Waggoner, David Waggoner, William 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 227 



black children were withdrawn to schools of their own. 
We recognize now in the list of the scholars the names of 
the children of the Church, among them two who in later 
years became ministers in the Church, Rev. Charles A. 
Wyeth and Rev. Benjamin J. Wallace, D. D., the brother of 
the late Mrs. Dr. DeWitt. 

The school had heretofore been held in the old Academy 
and the court house. It was now removed to the Church 
on Second street and Cherry alley and occupied the audience 
room. After 1824, the unfinished gallery was put in order 

Macchesney, C. Augustus Wyeth, Joseph Russell, George Kunkel, 
John Young, Joel Hinckley, Hugh Berryhill, Isaac Hyars, Michael 
Balsley, Samuel Lindy, Christian Lindy, Theodore Franks, Robert 
Harris, William Harris, William F. Bryan, Edward D. Bryan, Ben- 
jamin Wallace, Henry Stimmel, Albert Stimmel, Robert Elder, 
Henry Lyon, Lewis Wyeth, Richard Bryan, John B. Martin, Joshua 
E. Forster, Andrew Stewart, James Gillespie, George Johnson, 
Samuel Spahn, Franklin Cole, James Sloan, William Good, Peter 
Sowl, William Sowl, William Kelly, Lewis Kelly, John Sloan, Henry 
Cole, Robert McElwee, John Wagner, Thomas Lytle, John Lytle, 
Joseph Sowl; Jacob Sowl, Charles Perley, Eustus Perley, Wm. Reem, 
Irwin M. Wallace, Edward L. Orth, Richard C. Nabb, Augustus 
Gallaher, John Johnson, William Floody, George Balsley, Philip 
Linday, Joseph Wilson, William Dotterick, William Waggoner, 
Charles Floody, John Silsel, William Silsel. Joseph Grove, John 
Cannaday, John Thompson, Jeremiah Woler. 

Females, Black— Elizabeth Malson, Maria Malson, Mary Stewart 
Nelly Bradford, Margaret Allen, Jemima Ricketts, Sarah Rodrick, 
Fanny Williams, Rebecca Taylor, Dinah , Susan Layson. 

JfaZes, Black. — George Carr, Ezekiel Carter, Jacob Malson, Wm. 
McClintock, Chas. Coll, Eli Noovell, John Fiatts, Edward Davis, 
Charles Butler, Ben. Roberts, John Gould, James Taylor, Henry 
Davis, William Laughlin, Harry Johnson, John Lewis, John Baptist, 
Thomas Watson. 



228 



Centennial Memorial. 



and used for the school, and by the year 1827, an annex 
was built to the Church especially for Sunday-school 
purposes. The school soon increased to its old numbers 
before the departure of the Lutheran and Reformed scholars 
and the interest of the Church in the school deepened. 
Annual examinations of the scholars were held, which 
were attended by members of the Legislature. In 1821, 
the old system of managers who served as superintendents 
alternately was abandoned and the present system of a 
permanent superintendent was adopted. The first to fill 
the office was Mrs. Gov. Snyder with Miss Juliann Fisher as 
assistant. Mrs. Snyder served very ably and acceptably until 
her death in 1823, when Miss Juliann Fisher was chosen to 
fill her place. In 1822, a branch school of from 60 to 70 
scholars was formed at Coxestown. In 1825,* Miss Juliann 
Fisher, greatly to the regret of the school and its friends, 
resigned her position as superintendent and Miss Abigail 
Wyeth was chosen as her successor. By 1827, the school 
had increased to three hundred and fifty enrolled scholars. 

* July 3, 1825. — The following teachers "were present teaching- 
pupils, as numbered opposite their names," viz : 

Females. — Miss Graydon, 7; Miss M. Graydon, 6; Miss Wyeth, 9; 
Miss Hearne, 8 ; VEiss Armstrong, 7 ; Miss Sturgeon, 6 ; Miss Rose 
Wright, 11 ; Miss D. McKinney, 9 ; Miss McGonigle, 6 ; Miss Miller, 
9 ; Miss Stoner, 9 ; Mrs. W. R. DeWitt, 8 ; Miss Hays, 7 ; Miss Sloan, 
5 ; Miss Agnew, 5 ; Miss M. McKinney, 7 ; Mrs. Ritchey, 10. 

Males— Mr. McKinney, 9 ; Mr. Lutz, 4 ; Mr. D. Harris, 3 ; Mr. 
Joseph McKinney, 7 ; Mr. Montgomery, 7 ; Mr. Sturgeon, 8 ; Mr. 
Scull, 6 ; Mr. M. W. McKinney, 8 ; Mr. John H. Agnew, 7 ; Mr. H. 
Stewart, 1. 

This is the only list of teachers that can be found between 181 6 
and 1825.— Editor. 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 229 



During that year the school was reduced by the departure 
of fifty scholars to form the Sunday-school of the newly 
organized Methodist Church. The school of this Church 
was the mother school of all the early schools of the city. 

On Sunday, May 25, 1828, the infant school of this Church 
was organized with twenty-four scholars, whose names are on 
record.* Samuel W. Hays, who in 1840 became a ruling elder 
of the Church became its first superintendent and filled the 
office with great acceptance and faithfulness for nearly 
twenty-seven years, when he was obliged by failing health 
to resign. Mr. Hays was a warm friend and lover of the 
young and made a model superintendent. 

In 1829, Miss Wyeth resigned the superintendency of the 
main school and Miss Juliann Fisher was again chosen, and 
filled the office until 1 832. A new order of things was now 
inaugurated. Mr. Henry Cross was chosen superintendent 
in 1833, and filled the office for two years. During its 
infancy and childhood and until at the age of sixteen years 
it had grown into stalwartness, and had sent out from its 
fold three or four schools to other churches, the school was 
managed by the christian women of the Church. They 
filled its superintendency. They did it nobly and well. 
They have been from the birth of the school to this day of 
its great prosperity, the mightiest spiritual force in the 

* These are the names : Catharine Murray, Cornelia J. Wright, 
Margaret Bennet, Julia D. Graydon, Elizabeth Harris, Harriet 
Thompson, Eleanor Graydon, Catharine E. Cameron, Mary Parker, 
Catharine Duncan, Mary Wayne, Lydia Rees, H. Thompson (colored), 
Catharine Black, Isabella Buffington, Elizabeth Bufflngton, William 
Mitchell, William Ayres, John Wilson, George Whitehill, John Mar- 
tin, Richard T. Leech, Charles Mahon, Alexander Mahon.— Editor. 



230 



Centennial Memorial. 



religious education of the children and youth of this 
congregation. 

Mr. Cross resigned in 1835. The following record appears 
on the journal of the school for that year. "Resolved that 
Mr. James W. Weir be appointed superintendent in the place 
of Mr. Cross, resigned." March 12, 1835, a prince among 
Sunday-school Superintendents and among religious leaders 
had now taken his place at the head of the school. He 
continued to fill the place with remarkable power and 
universal favor until his death on March 14th, 1878, a 
period of forty-three years and two days.* At his death the 
present superintendent, Mr. Samuel J. M. McCarrell was 
chosen to fill the vacant office, and has occupied it with 
honor to himself and blessing to the school and Church 
for nearly sixteen years. 

It is due to the Church in this historical record that a 
few words should be added concerning the superintendency 
of Mr. Weir. It was a custom of his, a fixed law, to make 
a thorough preparation for the fulfillment of his duties. 
The school was on his heart through the busy week. At 
the opening of each session it was his wont to deliver 
a brief address in connection with the reading of the 
scriptures. These addresses were usually about fifteen 
minutes in length. They were always looked for with great 
interest, by the teachers and scholars alike, and were 
remarkable specimens of condensed thought, strikingly 
illustrated by happy anecdote and incident gathered from 



* As Mr. Weir was acting Superintendent during the year 1834, 
on account of Mr. Cross's illness, he really served more than forty- 
four years. — Editor. 




James W. Weir. 

Superintendent of the Sunday-schools, 



1834-1878. 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 231 

his wide course of reading and his intercourse with men. 
Very seldom were they devoid of deep interest. They 
were never trivial or common place. At times they were 
pungent and powerful appeals to the heart and conscience 
of all who heard them. Had they been preserved by any 
short hand reporter, they would have ranked high in the 
literature of Sunday school addresses. He made special 
preparation for the service. His thoughts were not random 
ones, nor were his words extempore. They were chosen 
and select. The school Bible which he used for years, will 
be found still to bear on its margins the brief notes and 
heads of some of his addresses. And the Sunday-school 
diary that he kept for years will give a great many illustra- 
tions of his skill in meeting this duty of the superintendent. 
Sometimes he would give on consecutive Sabbaths a series 
of connected addresses on the beatitudes, or the ten com- 
mandments or other themes, illustrating them with telling 
incidents. Sometimes he would select some particular 
passage in the lesson of the day and give a graphic address 
upon it. His Sunday-school prayers were also as remark- 
able as his addresses. They were fitted to the place and the 
occasion, and the minds he was leading to the throne of 
grace. Though blackboards were not in general use in his 
earlier days, and his own use of it was not extensive, he 
had one. Generally he placed upon it only a single 
sentence, but it was the very heart of his address. The 
passage which he left on the board at his death and that 
has been preserved and framed is a good illustration both 
of his facile hand and of the good use to which he put the 



232 



Centennial Memorial. 



blackboard.* He used it to make a point, to fix a truth, to 
deepen an impression, to make a lodgment in the memory, 
and he succeeded most admirably. His intercourse with the 
school was most genial and sympathetic. He was always 
thoughtful of others and the master of himself. His 
journal of the school, seen only after his death, reveals how 
thoroughly he gave his heart and thoughts and powers to 
the spiritual and eternal welfare of the school. Even in 
his last hours it showed itself to be the master passion of 
his heart to care for the Sunday-school of this Church. It 
was in his own mind at the moment of his departure from 
earth, and the last utterances that fell from his lips were 
concerning it. 

Some further record should be made of the Infant Sunday- 
school. As nearly as can be ascertained, the resignation by 
Mr. Samuel W. Hays of the superintendency, took place in 
1854. During the period intervening between 1854 and 
1858, the superintendency was held by Mrs. Sarah E. Dixon 
for a part of the time, and a brief season by Miss Simonton. 
After the destruction of the church building, March 30, 

* It was the custom of the Assistant Superintendent, Mr. McCar- 
rell, to prepare the blackboard after each session of Sunday-school 
for Mr. Weir's use on the following Sunday. On the last Sunday Mr. 
Weir was in the desk, Mr. McCarrell was absent from the city, and 
hence the weekly text written by Mr. Weir for that day remained 
upon the board. Before the next Sunday he was in his grave. The 
text which was thus left undisturbed, as his last word to the school, 
was, " Leaving us an example that ye should follow in his steps," was 
singularly fitting as the lesson of his life. The portion of the board 
containing the text was framed and still hangs upon the wall in the 
room of the upper department of the school. — Editor. 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 233 

1858, Mr. John A. Weir took charge of the school and 
directed its affairs with great success. Mr. Weir was a 
friend and lover of children, never more at home than when 
he was surrounded by them, and busy in their instruction 
and entertainment. His love for them was returned in 
bountiful measure by the children who were charmed by 
the methods of his teaching. Failing health compelled him 
in 1869, to resign most of the work of the school to Mrs. 
Matilda Feeman, retaining for himself only a general 
superintendency. He continued to be a welcome visitant at 
the school until his death. 

On December 5, 1875, the school was divided into classes. 
On May 7, 1876, Miss Julia W. DeWitt was appointed 
superintendent and took charge with Miss Anna C. Weir as 
assistant superintendent. Miss DeWitt held the position 
with great acceptableness until October 12, 1882, when her 
place was filled by Mrs. David Fleming. Mrs. Fleming and 
Miss Weir still retain their positions after years of devoted 
and successful service, for which the Church is most deeply 
grateful. On May 13, 1883, the school was divided on 
account of the large numbers attending it into the Inter- 
mediate and the Primary departments, Mrs. Fleming and 
Miss Weir retaining their positions as superintendents of the 
former, and Mrs. G. M. McCauley and Mrs. Helen F. Bruner 
being appointed superintendent and assistant superintendent 
of the latter. The year 1883 was a memorable one in the 
history of the whole school. The new building so finely 
adapted to all the wants of the Church, and so elegant in 
its architecture, was dedicated on January 28th of that year. 
In March, the Intermediate department was formed into a 



234 



Centennial Memorial. 



Missionary Band, called the Macedonian Band, and its 
record of gifts to Home and Foreign Missions and to Freed- 
men for the past eleven years has been a splendid one. On 
November 4, 1883, a library was presented to the Inter- 
mediate department by Mr. and Mrs. David Fleming in 
memory of a beloved son, Charles Mowry Fleming. The 
building in all its departments is beautiful and made sacred 
by the memorials to beloved and honored ones who were 
once connected with the school. The large and choice 
memorial windows to the two brothers and beloved superin- 
tendents, James Wallace Weir and John Andrew Weir, 
will continue we trust to speak for many years of their 
worth, and of the unfailing love of the Church. The stained 
glass windows, the clock presented by Mrs. I. S. Kerr, the 
speaking portrait, and the grand words, "Leaving us an 
example that we should follow his steps," the last traced by 
the "vanished hand" of our dead leader. Nay, may it be 
said, the whole building is a memoral of Christian love and 
unity. 

Through all the years of its history since its early 
organization, September 26, 1816, the school has been the 
object of the warm affection of the Church. Its roll of 
teachers is a grand one. The piety and talent of the 
Church have here found a place to pour out their wealth of 
devotion to Christ. It has not been an uncommon thing 
for teachers to spend from twenty-five to forty years in the 
work of the school. Children have come up from the 
infant school to stand at length in the church, stalwart 
men and consecrated women, doing Christ's work, and 
passing away with the ripeness and honors of age. 



William Radcliffe DeWitt. 

1818-1867. 

FROM PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN AT THE AGE OF 70 YEARS. 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 235 

The first quarter of a century in the life of the Church 
has nearly passed. The trials of the wilderness are over. 
The community has grown into a borough of twenty-five 
hundred inhabitants. There are four churches in the 
town : the Reformed, the Lutheran, the Presbyterian and a 
small Methodist Church which had just sprung into being. 
There were but two pastors, the Rev. George Lochman of 
the Lutheran Church and the Rev. John Rauhauser of the 
Reformed Church, popularly known as the German Pres- 
byterian. 

The burial ground of the Presbyterian Church was for 
the first half century in its history on ground now occupied 
by the Pennsylvania Railway Station. An old subscription 
list signed by eighty persons in the congregation of the date 
1818, still exists, providing for the purchase of additional 
ground. About the middle of this century the bodies of 
the dead buried there were removed to the present cemetery. 

In September 1818, William Radcliffe DeWitt, a licentiate 
of the Presbytery of New York, who had been preaching 
during the summer months, his first sermons to two small 
congregations in central New York, visited this church on 
invitation of some of its members and preached to the 
people for two consecutive Sabbaths and during the week. 
He met a very hearty reception, and on the fifth of October 
he was unanimously called to the pastorate. He accepted 
the call, came on and took up his residence here. The call 
was signed by the four elders of the Church, Moses Gilmor, 
Samuel Weir, William Graydon and John Stoner, Adam 
Boyd having died May 14, 1814, and by sixty-one members of 
the congregation. Mr. DeWitt was ordained by the Presbytery 



236 



Centennial Memorial. 



of Carlisle on the 26th of October, 1819 and on the 12th of 
November following he was installed. This was Dr. 
DeWitt's first and only charge. He continued in the 
pastorate until December 23, 1867, the day of his death, a 
period of over forty-nine years of actual service, and 
over forty-eight years as an installed pastor. For thirty- 
six years he was the sole pastor and for the remaining 
thirteen he had a colleague. Of the sixty-five persons who 
signed his call but one outlived the youthful pastor. 
Among them were men who in subsequent years filled high 
positions in civil life or were called to offices in the Church. 
The following may be named. Chief Justice Gibson of the 
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, William Findlay and 
Francis R. Shunk, governors of the Commonwealth. Messrs. 
Sloan, Agnew, Neilson and McJimsey in later years Ruling- 
Elders in the Church and other men who became prominent 
in their professions. The Board of Trustees composed of 
noble men, all preceeded Dr. DeWitt into the other world. 

According to a roll made out by William Graydon, one 
of the elders, the Church membership at the opening of Dr. 
DeWitt's ministry was seventy. This number was small 
compared with the large size of the congregation. The 
young people were not generally communicants in the 
church. They were not expected to make an early profession 
of religion. There were few, if any young people's organi- 
zations of any kind. The day of societies had not yet 
dawned upon the Church. There was very little to attract 
youth in the institutions of religion and very little for them 
to do. The Church had not yet learned the art of Christian 
Work and the joy of service. Dr. DeWitt has left on record 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 237 

the testimony that it was only after some persuasion that 
the elders and other lay members were induced to hold 
meetings for prayer which could be attended by all, indis- 
criminately, who desired to come. When these elders and 
laymen took hold of Christian work and prayer, under the 
leadership of Dr. DeWitt, they soon developed into 
remarkably gifted men. The godly, praying women were 
however then as they have always been the ornament and 
glory of the Church. The prayermeeting first established 
was held originally in private homes, until no private 
dwelling could hold the numbers who desired to attend. 
The log school house which stood at the foot of Capitol Hill 
on the corner of Third and Walnut streets was then obtained. 
It soon became too strait for the gathering crowds. The 
Spirit of God was among the people. The heart of 
the young pastor was cheered by a revival at the opening 
of his ministry and the church sprung forward into 
new life and unwonted activities. It grew rapidly. The 
power of God was in it. It became influential in the 
community and through all the years of Dr. DeWitt's 
ministry it was the home of intelligence. The men of the 
professions very largely attended it. It continued to be the 
leading English Speaking pulpit, as the pulpits of the 
Lutheran and Reformed Churches were divided between 
the English and German, in their Sunday services for 
several years. The executive officers of the State Govern- 
ment, the Legislators and the Judges of the Courts generally 
waited upon the services of the Presbyterian Church. Of 
the sixteen Governors of the State from 1790 to 1870, the 
following were Presbyterians, and were attendants upon the 



238 



Centennial Memorial. 



Sabbath worship of this Church : Thomas McKean, Simon 
Snyder, William Findlay, George Wolf, David R. Porter, 
Francis R. Shunk, William T. Johnston,William Bigler, James 
Pollock, William F. Packer, Andrew G. Curtin and John W. 
Geary. The last was a member of the Church for some 
years before his death. 

Of the events that occured in the history of this Church 
during Dr. DeWitt's pastorate I must speak briefly. 

On January 4, 1819, a charter was obtained from the 
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania for the congregation 
under the name of The English Presbyterian Congregation. 
That is still its legal title. The application was signed by 
seventy-one members of the congregation and the grant is 
approved by William Findlay, the Governor of the Com- 
monwealth. The charter is still in the possession of the 
trustees of the Church. 

The following additions were made to the Ruling 
Eldership of the Church during the sole pastorate of Dr. 
DeWitt : 

On February 20, 1820, Dr. Samuel Agnew, Robert 
Sloan and Joseph A. McJimsey were ordained and installed 
to the office; and on September 11th, 1825, John Neilson, 
Richard T. Leech and John C. Capp were also ordained 
and inducted into the same office. In 1834 James W 
Weir, Alexander Sloan and Alexander Graydon were 
added to the noble band of Ruling Elders and leaders 
of the Church. In 1840 Samuel W. Hays and Alfred 
Armstrong, in 1845 William Root and William McClean 
were also ordained and installed. During the co-pastorate, 
Mordecai McKinney, John A. Weir and Robert J. Fleming, 



English Presbyterian Chur 

Second Street and Cherry Alley. 

ERECTED 1841-42. 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 239 

in the year 1855, were added to the roll. Twenty intel- 
ligent, earnest, God-fearing men served the Church as 
members of its session and as its spiritual leaders during 
Dr. De Witt's ministry. Rarely has a Church been honored 
with such a body of consecrated and irreproachable men. 

During these early years in the pastorate of Dr. DeWitt, 
the church edifice, though enlarged by a gallary and other- 
wise altered, became too contracted for the numbers who 
desired to worship in it. In the spring of 1841 the old 
church was torn down, and the erection of a new one was 
begun on the site of the old one and of some ground added 
by purchase. During its construction the court house was 
occupied both for the regular Sabbath service and for the 
Sunday-school. The contractor for the new building was 
Mr. Peter Bernheisel, and it was opened and dedicated to 
God on the 13th of January, 1842. It was constructed of 
brick covered by white cement, and was universally 
regarded as a structure of peculiar neatness and beauty. 
Its dimensions were eighty-four feet by sixty-three. In 
front it was very tastefully adorned by a portico, supported 
by pillars of the Corinthian order, an exact copy, it was 
said, of a celebrated temple front erected on the street of the 
Tripos at Athens in the year 335 B. C. to commemorate a 
musical victory. The church was a two-story building. 
The basement story was above ground and contained a 
lecture room, a Sabbath-school room, and a studio designed 
for the pastor. The latter was also adapted to the uses of 
the original infant school of the Church. The audience 
chamber above was a fine large room, and with its three 
gallaries would accommodate fully a thousand persons. 



240 



Centennial Memorial. 



The gallaries were called into use only on grand occasions, 
save that for the choir. The pulpit, constructed of finely 
polished Italian marble, was regarded as the cynosure for 
for all eyes, and unrivaled for chasteness and beauty. The 
whole structure was one of great beauty and fitness. After 
sixteen years of service it was totally consumed by fire on 
the evening of March 30th, 1858, the fire originating in 
some adjacent buildings. During the ministry of Dr. 
DeWitt the Church was visited by repeated and signal out- 
pourings of Divine grace, by which many were brought 
into its communion. The most noted of these seasons were 
in the years 1819, 1824, 1827, 1830, 1834 and 1843. While 
Dr. DeWitt largely devoted his thoughts and labors 
to train up around him a body of sound, intelligent 
and earnest Christians, and to develop the piety of 
Christian homes, and so secure a permanent and growing 
state of religious life as the best means of insuring 
a stable and progressive Church, he was thankful to God 
for these extraordinary tokens of Divine favor. The 
most noted of these revivals was in 1843, and it is well 
remembered still by a few in the Church who then found 
the Christ of their hopes and of their lives. The congrega- 
tion was stirred to its foundations. The entire community 
was awakened. For the space of two or three months all 
except necessary labors were laid aside that men might give 
themselves to the matter of salvation for themselves and for 
their fellowmen. The places of business were often closed. 
Religion was the theme of talk upon the streets. Men in 
the Legislature, then in session, left the halls of legislation 
that in the meetings for prayer they might seek the face of 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 241 

a forgiving God. Two senators were among the converts, 
one of whom subsequently became a minister in the Epis- 
copal Church. Several young men came into the Church 
who have since that time served here and elsewhere 
as ruling elders. One hundred and thirty made a public 
profession of their faith on the same day and the member- 
ship of the Church reached its highest numbers under Dr. 
DeWitt's pastorate. The incidents of that happy period 
were often rehearsed in subsequent years by those who had 
shared in them. They were the more cherished in memory 
because they had followed so closely upon another series of 
events that threatened to be disastrous to the well being of 
the Church, and of which a brief record must now be made, 
as they had their bearing upon its history. 

In 1838 the Presbyterian Church of the entire country 
was divided into two great branches, known as the old and 
the new school. The division continued for thirty-two 
years, or until 1870, when a reunion took place, which we 
trust will become more thorough and happy and strong 
until the second coming of the Great Head of all believers. 

Into the causes and the history of that unhappy division 
it is not necessary to enter. It would involve very lengthy 
statements, too lengthy for a discourse on an occasion of 
this kind. It would also involve the expression of personal 
opinions and judgments upon the matters that had for years 
agitated the Presbyterian Church and that led to the 
disruption. The immediate occasion for the separation of 
the Church into two bodies may be found in the action of 
the General Assembly of 1837 that met in the Central 
Church of Philadelphia on May 18th. By a vote of one 



242 



Centennial Memorial. 



hundred and thirty-two ayes to one hundred and five nays, 
the Western Reserve Synod, with all its churches, was 
declared not to be a part of the Presbyterian Church in the 
United States. Four days later the three Synods of Utica, 
Geneva and Genesee were also by a vote of one hundred 
and fifteen yeas to eighty -eight nays, " declared to be 
out of the ecclesiastical connection of the Presbyterian 
Church " and to be " not in form nor in fact an integral 
portion of said Church." By this action of the General 
Assembly of 1837, four Synods, containing about thirty 
Presbyteries, several hundred churches and nearly one 
fifth of the entire membership of the Presbyterian Church 
of the country were exscinded from the Church. They 
were declared to be no longer a part of the Church of 
their birth, their training, their sympathies and their 
solemn vows. It was a very summary procedure, to 
say the least, to cut off, without impeachment and without 
trial, so large a number of ministers and elders and Church 
members from the Church which they loved and honored. 

The Assembly of the next year, 1838, also met in Philadel- 
phia. Commissioners appeared from the exscinded Presby- 
teries and claimed a right to seats in the Assembly. Their 
claim was denied and seats were refused them. A new 
Assembly was then constituted of the friends and sympa- 
thizers of the exscinded Presbyteries, whose members then 
withdrew to the First Presbyterian Church, of Philadelphia. 
This body was the first of the so-called new School Assem- 
blies. The two Assemblies continued in session for several 
days, each claiming to represent the Presbyterian Church of 
the United States. This Church was called upon to decide 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 243 

with which of these two bodies it would cast its lot. A full 
history of the action taken by the congregation has been 
preserved in the handwriting of Rev. Dr. DeWitt, the pastor 
of the Church.* Three propositions were brought before the 
people and fully considered, namely, (1) To recognize and 
acknowledge as the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
Church that body of commissioners who met in the Seventh 
Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, or the body subse- 
quently known as the Old School General Assembly ; (2) 
To recognize and acknowledge as the General Assembly of 
the Presbyterian Church that body of commissioners who 
met in the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, or the 
body familiarly known subsequently as the New School 
General Assembly; or (3) to decline the jurisdiction of 
either body and also of all the subordinate Synods and 
Presbyteries, and to assume the position of an independent 
Presbyterian Church. On July 2, 1838, the Church with- 
drew from the control of all the higher ecclesiastical courts 
and became an independent Presbyterian Church. 

This action was taken with three or four voices dissent- 
ing. This action of the Church was without doubt mainly 
due to two causes. First, the Church by a very large 
majority sympathized with the new school branch of the 
Presbyterian body in the country and especially regarded 
the acts of the General Assembly of 1837 in the excision of 
the four Synods, and the proceedings that grew out of them 
as unconstitutional and unjust and unkind; and second, 
the Church was unwilling to have the pastoral relation 



* See Appendix, Note IV.— Editor. 



244 



Centennial Memorial. 



between it and Dr. DeWitt dissolved, as he declared it 
would be necessary for him to withdraw from the pastorate 
should the congregation decide to acknowledge the juris- 
diction of the Old School General Assembly. 

The independent position assumed by the Church was 
maintained until November 5, 1840, when it was received 
into the Presbytery of Harrisburg, in connection with the 
New School General Assembly, and so remained until all 
divisions were lost in the happy re-union of eighteen 
hundred and seventy. It was a severe trial to this Church 
to be severed from the great body of the Presbyterian 
Churches in Central Pennsylvania. It had walked with 
them in happiest harmony for nearly half a century. Two 
other churches, the First Presbyterian Church of Carlisle 
and the Presbyterian Church of York had preceeded this 
Church in recognizing the New School General Assembly. 
The Presbytery of Harrisburg was a very small body, made 
up of widely scattered churches. It required no small 
amount of courage and fidelity to principle for these few 
scattered congregations in the midst of a large body of 
churches to take and maintain for over thirty years the 
stand they had assumed, and that put them out of fellow- 
ship with old friends. The little Presbytery of Harrisburg 
was like a small but very happy household and this Church 
felt for about one third of a century the power of its attrac- 
tiveness. 

Within a few years after the remarkable revival of 1843, 
a spiritual re-action occurred. It is no uncommon thing in 
the history of our fickle human nature. The Church be- 
came cold in its religious life and lost its power upon the 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 245 

world. There were but few conversions and the member- 
ship of the Church decreased by death, by removal to other 
communions and by a few defections from the faith. The 
heart of the pastor became discouraged. The burden of 
years was coming upon him and he determined to withdraw 
from most of the active duties of the pastorate and commit 
the work to such a colleague as the congregation might call 
to co-operate with him in the care of the Church. On 
February 6, 1854, his request that a co-pastor be associated 
with him was presented to a meeting of the congregation, 
and after resolutions expressive of regret and of their con- 
tinued confidence, his request was granted. In pursuance 
of this arrangement Mr. Thomas H. Robinson, who had just 
finished his studies at the Western Theological Seminary, 
Allegheny, Pa., was invited to preach in the pulpit on the 
last Sabbath in June and the first Sabbath in July of 1854. 
He preached on those Sabbaths and the Wednesday evening 
intervening, and on July 5th was called to be a colleague 
with Dr. DeWitt in the pastorate of the Church. He ac- 
cepted the call and entered upon the work on the first 
Sabbath of October of the same year. He had been licensed 
by the Presbytery of Ohio a few days before his visit. He 
was ordained to the ministry and installed in the pastorate 
on January 21st, 1855. It was his first pastorate as it had 
also been that of his three predecessors, and it proved to be 
his only pastorate as it also was that of Dr. DeWitt. The 
terms of service in the Church of the third and fourth pas- 
tors amounted to nearly eighty years, thirteen of which 
were in common. The relations between the pastors were 
most fraternal and kindly in character. 



246 



Centennial Memorial. 



During all his ministry, Dr. DeWitt had proved to be a 
fast friend and supporter of missions, home and foreign, 
and the Church fully sympathized with him. His elders 
were greatly interested in these fields of labor. Both Dr. 
DeWitt and one of his elders, James W. Weir, were made 
corporate members of the American Board of Commissioners 
for Foreign Missions. The interest in foreign missions was 
stimulated by the many years of service of one of the mem- 
bers of the Church as a missionary in the Sandwich Islands, 
Miss Mary Ann McKinney, sister of Honorable Mordecai 
McKinney, and wife of Rev. William Patterson Alexander. 
She spent twenty years of devoted service on the Islands. 
One of her sons, William DeWitt Alexander, late a com- 
missioner of the Provisional Government of the Sandwich 
Islands to the United States, has for many years been prom- 
inent in public affairs in those Islands. 

There were at my coming, in 1854, about one hundred 
and seventy members in the communion of the Church. 
Forty years have since passed and but twelve of that number 
now remain on the roll. A few others are still living and 
are in the fellowship of other churches, but the great 
majority have departed this life in the faith of Christ's holy 
name. 

Of this fourth occupant of the pastorate the following 
facts may be stated: He was born at North East, Erie 
county, Pennsylvania, January 30, 1828. In 1850 he gradu- 
ated from Oberlin College, Ohio, and in May, 1854, from the 
Western Theological Seminary. In coming here he came 
back to the early home of his ancestry. Thomas Robinson, 
his ancestor of the sixth generation back, was among the 



« 

Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 247 

first settlers of Donegal in the early part of the last century. 
Philip Robinson, son of Thomas, and his great great grand- 
father, was among the founders of Old Hanover Church? 
and resided on a farm at the mouth of Manada Gap. A 
fort, known as Robinson's Fort, and a place of refuge and of 
defence during the Indian wars about the middle of the last 
century, is mentioned in the Pennsylvania Archives.* His 
eldest son, George Robinson, removed to the head of Sher- 
man's creek, Perry county, about 1754, and was one of the 
founders of the Old Centre Church, and one of its first ruling 
elders. Upon his farm also stood a fort, mentioned in the 
Pennsylvania Archives as George Robinson's Fort, into 
which the the inhabitants of the valley fled upon incursions 
of the Indians. He was also a captain in service during the 
times of the Revolution. My grandfather, Thomas Robin- 
son, the youngest son of George R., removed to Erie county 
in 1798, and was among the first settlers on the shores of 
Lake Erie. He, with a few others, founded the first Presby- 
terian Church in that region, and was one of the original 
bench of elders. I came here a child of the Covenant, 
through many generations, a lineal descendant of the first 
settlers of Scotch-Irish blood and Presbyterian faith. It is 
needless to say I found myself at home. My ancestry lay 
buried in several of the ancient church yards of this region. 

As in the case of my predecessor, Dr. DeWitt, the first 
year of my ministry was blessed and brightened by a gra- 
cious revival of religion. Several, who at that time made a 
profession of their faith in Christ, are still active and devoted 



* It stood on Philip Robinson's farm. 



248 



Centennial Memorial. 



workers in the Church of Christ. The Young Men's Chris- 
tian Association, of this city, which has so long been an 
agency of blessing, was instituted in the Lecture Room of 
this Church on December 12, 1854, largely, I may claim, 
through my own urgency. It is my impression that it was 
the eighth association organized in the United States. His 
Honor, John W. Simonton, was chosen its first president' 
and a large proportion of its earliest officers and members 
belonged to this congregation. The Association should cele- 
brate its approaching semi-centennary. 

After the destruction of the second church edifice by fire 
on the evening of March 30, 1858, the congregation met for 
Sabbath worship, for nearly two years, in Brant's Hall, on 
Market street. Several of the other churches of the city 
vied with each other in kind and pressing offers of their 
own church buildings for our religious services. The gra- 
cious and Christian letters received from them are still 
preserved. During that period the Sunday-school was held, 
until October 16, 1859, in the upper room of the court 
house. On that day it took possession of the new school- 
room on the corner of Market Square and Second streets. 
The entrance upon the new home for the school was made 
an occasion of great rejoicing. The week-day lecture ser- 
vice was held on Thursday, and, by the courtesy of the 
Reformed Church, was held in their lecture-room, on Chest- 
nut street, until Monday, October 17th, when the lecture- 
room of this church was dedicated to God, and has been in 
use until this day. 

On the 18th of March, 1860, this Church was occupied for 
the first time, and was solemnly dedicated to the purposes 




Thomas Hastings Robinson. 

1854-1884. 

FROM PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN AT THE AGE OF 64 YEARS. 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 249 

of divine worship. At both the morning and evening ser- 
vices the church was crowded, and many could not find an 
entrance. The sermons for the day were both preached by 
the eloquent Dr. Rosewell D. Hitchcock, of Union Theolog- 
ical Seminary. They were sermons of remarkable power 
and great beauty. In the afternoon the Communion of the 
Lord's Supper was celebrated. For over one-third of a 
century this room has been the Sabbath home of this con- 
gregation. It has lost none of its first attractiveness, and 
through all these years sacred and precious memories have 
been gathering in it that continue to enrich it. Here the 
festal joys of marriage have been witnessed. From this 
room the bodies of our beloved dead have been carried, and 
laid away until the morning of the resurrection. Here 
wondrous scenes of revival have gladdened the hearts of 
Christians. Here, too, during the long struggle to save the 
life of the nation, the people met, sometimes under depress- 
ing fears and great forebodings, sometimes in periods of 
intense excitement and sometimes for seasons of devout 
thanksgiving. 

Ere the congregation entered upon its new religious home 
another event occurred that left a deep impression upon the 
church and molded its history. We became two bands. 
Quite a number of the Church, by the circumstances of birth 
and early training, by their associations with churches of 
the region, and by their own hearty convictions, had, for 
years, preferred that section of the Presbyterian Church 
known as the Old School. It was determined to organize 
a new Church in connection with the Presbytery of Carlisle 
and the Old School General Assembly. Letters of dismis- 



250 



Centennial Memorial. 



sion were granted to all who asked for them, and the present 
Pine Street Church was constituted. The withdrawal re- 
duced the Church to about one hundred and fifty members 
the smallest number for many years. Painful as was the 
breaking up of many cherished associations, the departing 
of beloved friends and the rending of family ties, time and 
the gentle influences of divine grace have been busy healing 
the pains of separation, and the growth of two large and 
strong congregations, the enlarged activities of Christians in 
both Churches, and the rapid and substantial growth of 
Christ's kingdom in the city have demonstrated that the 
loving heart and hand of God molded the events of that 
hour to his own glory. As we look back upon the events of 
that time, at the close of these thirty-five years of Christian 
labors and victories and progress, the griefs and fears of the 
time pass away, and, exulting with the Apostle, we cry: 
"Herein we do rejoice and will rejoice." With larger hearts 
and clearer vision we recognize to-day the unseen hand 
that then guided us, that guides us now, and evermore 
will guide us to his own blessed ends. 

At my coming to the city in 1854 the population was 
about ten thousand. It is not far from forty-five thousand 
now. Its churches numbered about twelve. They have 
increased to over fifty. There was but a single Presbyterian 
Church with a membership of about one hundred and 
seventy. The Presbyterian Church was failing to keep pace 
with the growth of the city. Its Sunday-school num- 
bered two hundred and forty. The contributions of the 
Church, both for its own support and for benevolent causes, 
were less than twenty-five hundred dollars. Of this amount 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 251 

one thousand dollars were paid to meet the salaries of the 
two pastors, that amount being divided between them. 
There was no parsonage, and the pastors paid their own 
house rent. They were in no danger of growing rich upon 
their salaries. 

According to the report made to the General Assembly 
of 1893 in May last, the Presbyterian Churches of the city 
now number six, with two large and flourishing missions 
and a prosperous growing Church just beyond the city 
limits. The number of Church members has increased from 
one hundred and seventy to two thousand and fifty-one. 
The growth of the city has been four and one-half fold, of 
the Presbyterian Church membership over twelve fold. 
The number in the Sunday-school has increased from two 
hundred and forty to four thousand eight hundred and 
and eleven, or twenty fold. The contributions of the 
Churches have increased from twenty-five hundred dollars 
for all objects, to sixty-five thousand, six hundred and 
ninety-six dollars during the last church year, or over 
twenty-two fold. Of this amount thirty-one thousand, five 
hundred and sixty-four dollars were given directly to 
benevolent objects, and thirty-four thousand, one hundred 
and thirty-one dollars were given to congregational 
expenses. These figures show how under the fostering 
care and smile of God these Churches have waxed in num- 
bers and strength. 

This Church alone has grown from a Church membership 
of one hundred and seventy to seven hundred and seventy- 
six, and from a Sunday-school of two hundred and forty 
members to one of seventeen hundred and eighty-nine, and 



252 



Centennial Memorial. 



from a contribution for all causes, its own home work and 
the work of general benevolence, from twenty-five hundred 
dollars per year to over twenty thousand. During the last 
forty years, the years through which statistics have been in 
some good measure, though not fully, preserved, the con- 
tributions of this church to all objects have been over half 
a million of dollars. Of this amount over one hundred 
thousand dollars have been given to Home and Foreign 
Missions. Large as these sums may seem to be, let it not 
for a moment be thought that they reach at all the height 
of our obligation to God and our fellow-men, or the height 
of our ability to give. No one has been made poorer by 
these gifts. The world has been enriched, and every liberal 
heart has grown in spiritual wealth. The benevolent causes 
to which these sums of money have been given are too 
many to be enumerated. In addition to those that are 
especially required by the General Church, there have been 
such as the following : The American Bible Society, The 
American Tract Society, The Sunday School Union, The 
Benevolent Society of Harrisburg, the Home for the Friend- 
less, the City Hospital and numerous other causes. 

Another series of events that had a great influence upon 
this church cannot be omitted from this brief history. It 
affected its growth and influenced its piety. It occupied 
very largely for several years its thoughts and directed its 
actions. The Church feels to this day the molding power 
of those events. 

The stupendous war of the Southern Rebellion, which for 
nearly five years evoked the highest energies of the nation, 
and that came to the door of every home, and laid its 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 253 

demands on every man, found this Church and congrega- 
tion prepared for sacrifices. For many years there had been 
an enlarging contest and struggle in the State and in the 
Church over the questions that lay at the heart of the great 
conflict. The fact cannot now be overlooked. I found the 
members of this Church agitated upon these questions when 
I came here in 1854, seven years before the dreadful war 
opened upon us. The entire New School Church with 
which this congregation was connected had for many years 
been greatly affected and was far more pronounced on the 
question of freedom for all men than the other branch of 
the Presbyterian Church. But a small proportion of the 
Presbyterians of the South, after the great division in 1838, 
cast in their lot with the New School Church, and these few, 
after the meeting of the Assembly in 1857, four years before 
the outbreak of the Rebellion in 1861, withdrew from the 
New School Church on account of its attitude on slavery 
and formed a separate ecclesiastical organization. This 
Church was in hearty sympathy with the body to which it 
belonged in its love of the country and in its opposition to 
the system of human slavery. It did not, however, dream 
— few did in that day — how grave and terrible a conflict was 
before the nation. The loyalty of the people was put to the 
severest test and its faith in God was sorely tried. Its love 
to the country stood the test of self-denials such as the 
people had never thought themselves capable of making. 
There were many dark hours during that memorable strug- 
gle. In the darkest the people did not falter. Large and 
generous contributions to be reckoned by thousands of 
dollars were made to the Christian and Sanitary Commis- 



254 



Centennial Memorial. 



sions for the relief of the sick and the wounded soldiery. 
The women of the Church were indefatigable in their labors 
and boundless in their sympathies. They made garments 
and haversacks before the general government was ready to 
meet the demands ; they opened the hospitalities of their 
homes to the coming and going soldiers ; they visited, like 
angels of mercy, the hospitals that were formed in the city 
for the sick and the wounded from the fields of battle. The 
junior pastor was permitted by the Church to leave his pul- 
pit and spend months in the service of the Christian Com- 
mission in Virginia and Tennessee. Our city was often like 
a camp. The sound of martial music, the beating of drums 
and the waving of flags, the steady tramp of armed men, 
singing their patriotic songs on our streets, the coming and 
going of regiments and of brigades, the long trains of huz- 
zahing armies passing through the city and crossing the 
river, with their faces away from their homes and turned to 
the seat of war, soldiers at our homes, at our meetings of 
prayer and in our Churches at Sabbath worship, the sight 
of Presidents and Professors of College, of Doctors of 
Divinity, of men high in the professions in the ranks, or as 
captains and as chaplains, and the sad trains filled with the 
sick and the wounded for our hospitals, or passing through 
to hospitals elsewhere, the strange, new sight of prisoners of 
war on our streets, these were some of the things that occu- 
pied our thoughts for nearly five long sad years of weari- 
ness and hope. And then, too, came the terrible strain as 
we waited for news from the battle-fields and scanned the 
lists of the killed and wounded to see if mayhap the names 
of any of our own beloved ones were there, the strain as we 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 255 

waited and wondered when the end would come and what 
the end would be, our hushed and solemn places of prayer, 
where we plead with God for our country ; our days of fast- 
ing and our days of thanksgiving, too ; our bated breath as 
we spoke of some great disaster, a battle lost, a great general 
fallen, and our lifted hopes as the tide turned ; they were 
strange, thrilling days of which the children of to-day can 
scarcely form a conception. 

The pulpit of this Church felt under bonds to truth 
and to the country to do its part in those trying times. 
Patriotic sermons, " War Sermons," as they were then called, 
were preached from time to time. In days of depression 
that followed any disaster to our armies, when saddened 
and despondent hearts need to be keyed up to a larger, 
firmer trust in God, and a firmer hope for the final issue in 
righteousness, peace and a united country. And in days of 
hopefulness and exultation when the spirit of thanksgiving 
to God needed to be called out, this pulpit spoke with no 
uncertain tones and this Church responded with no uncer- 
tain and wavering fidelity to the nation's peril and need. 

Added to our larger concern for the whole country this 
Church had its own precious personal investments in the 
war. About fifty men and youth belonging to the families 
of the congregation then, or but a little time before, served 
with the army of the Union. They filled positions from 
the private to the general. Some are to-day bearing their 
scars. Some fell on the field of battle. One of the Elders 
of the Church lost a noble son. Another had a son who 
was brevetted as captain for gallant services at the battle of 
Weldon Railroad, Virginia, and who in that engagement 



256 



Centennial Memorial. 



received a wound that gave him trouble until his early 
death in 1883. Others lie with the unknown heroes who 
fell on the field and were hurriedly buried with no stone to 
mark their resting-place. This Church had its share in the 
fears and the tears of that sad conflict. It felt to its inmost 
heart the savage shot that laid the great and calm leader of 
the nation low. And when the end came and the white 
wings of peace fluttered over the battle-fields of strife and 
blood, this Church joined in the universal gratefulness to 
God that war was over and rest had come. It had been 
very hard to carry on the work of God amid the unceasing 
excitements of those perilous years. It was hard to get 
back again to the quiet and calmness of our holy Gospel. 

After the close of the war, the years passed quietly and 
rapidly along. In 1867 the venerated senior pastor, now 
ripe in years, was called to his reward. Negotiations had 
already begun to heal the division in the Presbyterian 
Church. The years of separation had been continually 
demonstrating the substantial unity of the two branches of 
the Church in doctrine and polity, and in all forms of 
christian work. They had been drawing towards each other. 
The common struggles and sufferings for the salvation of 
the country had warmed the hearts of the people towards 
each other. The spirit of union was in the air. Hopes 
were entertained that there might be a fusion of all the 
families of the Presbyterian genealogy. We became espe- 
cially interested in the re-union movement, because one of 
the conferences which greatly promoted it was held in this 
church during the session of the New School General 
Assembly in 1868. In fact it was in this Church and at 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 257 

that time that the report on the basis of re-union, as pre- 
sented by the joint committee of fifteen through its chairman 
Rev. William Adams, D. D., of New York, was adopted by a 
unanimous vote. It was the harbinger of the good time 
coming. 

A number of the great leaders of the two Churches were 
here, and this room resounded to their eloquent and 
fraternal addresses. Twelve who have filled the chair of 
Moderator in the New School General Assembly or in the 
Re-united Assembly, were present, viz : Rev. Drs. William 
Adams, Samuel Hanson Cox, Thomas H. Skinner, Henry 
B. Smith, George L. Prentiss, Samuel W. Fisher, Laurens 
P. Hickok, George Duffield, Jonathan F. Stearns, Robert 
W. Patterson, Edward D. Morris and Henry A. Nelson. 
There were present also as Commissioners from the Old 
School General Assembly to confer on the subject of re-union, 
Rev. Drs. Charles C. Beatty, Richard H. Richardson, Villeroy 
D. Reed, and Chancellor Henry W. Green, Robert Carter 
and Henry Day. Addresses were made by all the represen- 
tatives of the other assembly. Telegrams of greeting and 
brotherly love were exchanged between the two Assemblies, 
and a common hour of prayer for one of the days of the 
week was appointed. The occasioD was one long to be 
remembered. In the consummation of the union two years 
later, 1870, this Church most heartily rejoiced. It was 
brought again into closest and most happy relations with 
Churches from which it had been separated for a third of 
a century, and to their hearts and their homes the members 
of this Church once more welcomed the representatives of 
Presbyterianism in Cumberland Valley. 



258 



Centennial Memorial. 



Fourteen years of the fourth pastorate now followed each 
other in quick succession. The years passed quietly away. 
They were years of mingled sorrow and joy. Gladness and 
grief alternated with each other. The Church grew in 
strength. It multiplied its agencies of usefulness. It 
increased its charities. Sometimes it moved along gently 
in the ordinary channels of grace. The family, the 
Sunday-school, and the sanctuary, social prayers, pious 
lives, gospel preaching, works of charity among the poor 
were evidences of the living power of true religion. The 
silent dew falling unseen when men are asleep has its 
mission in hastening on the harvest as well as has the 
breaking cloud which fills the thirsty earth and chokes the 
stream and swells the river to a flood. There were times 
when God came in gracious power to His temple, when He 
crushed the clamors of worldliness and awakened large 
numbers in a simultaneous concern for their salvation. 
Glorious times they were. But as the Master looks down 
into his vineyard, He rejoices also in those quiet days when 
under the light and warmth of His smile the leaves are 
putting forth and the buds are swelling, when the flowers 
and fruits of grace are quietly coming to perfection. 

Through those years we had our marriage joys. Chil- 
dren blessed our homes with their songs and laughter, 
sinners came into the kingdom of grace, and saints left us 
for the kingdom of glory. New faces greeted us, and the 
friendly faces of many years passed out of our sight. 
Lifelong warriors laid their armor by and younger soMiers 
stepped into the ranks and the winning cause swept on 
towards the final victory. 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 259 

The history of these years would be incomplete were we 
to omit from the record certain events that had a very 
great and marked influence upon the character of this 
Church and of Presbyterianism in the city. In the winter 
of 1875-1876 there occurred in the city a revival of religion 
of unusual power and extent, by which many hundreds 
were led to come out from the world and make a public 
confession of Christ. In the fall of 1875 it was very deeply 
felt that there was a pressing need for a quickening of 
religious life in all the Churches and an awakening of the 
whole city to the subject of salvation. An association of 
the evangelical clergy of the city discussed and prayed over 
the matter at its meetings. Several of the leading and 
most active Christian laymen were called into the confer- 
ences and it was decided to hold a series of union meetings 
of all the Churches. The union of Churches and minis- 
ters was very general. There was almost a complete break- 
ing down of all denominational lines and a fusion of 
sympathies and labors. A very happy state of fraternal 
feeling prevailed. The religious movement became general. 

James W. Weir, the beloved Elder of this Church, at 
one of the conferences urged that the Rev. E. P. Ham- 
mond, a widely-known Evangelist, should be secured. The 
great confidence felt in Mr. Weir by all the Churches led to 
an engagement for Mr. Hammond to come. Before he 
reached the city the daily meetings had become very large 
and very impressive. The Churches were awakened. The 
Pastors spoke with new power. The irreligious world 
began to question what it all meant. When the Evangelist 



260 



Centennial Memorial. 



came he found the Churches all united, earnest, praying, 
and assembling in large numbers. 

Selecting this Church as the most central and one of the 
largest in the city, most of the services were held in it. At 
times the crowd in attendance was so large that the opera 
house was used. The services were held daily. Usually 
a service of prayer was held in the morning, and though 
it occurred during business hours, it was very largely 
attended. These morning meetings were greatly loved by 
the Christian people who attended them. 

In the afternon, generally at the hour when the public 
schools closed for the day a service was held for children. 
Mr. Hammond has been called " the children's preacher." 
He throughly believes in the conversion of children, even 
of tender years, and makes it a prime matter in his evan- 
gelistic work, to instruct and interest the children and 
bring them to know and trust, and love Jesus Christ as 
their personal friend and saviour. He was very clear and 
simple and graphic in his addresses to them and wielded a 
great and good influence upon them. 

The evening services of the revival were the times ot 
greatest public interest. Night after night for weeks this 
house was filled to overflow. Often many stood during the 
entire service and many were compelled to go away as a 
place to stand could not be had. At times the lecture room 
was also opened and another meeting for prayer was carried 
on at the same time. 

The people came from all parts of the city and from all 
classes, the professions and the laboring men, the rich and 
the poor. They came in from the surrounding country. 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 261 

They caine on the railways from five to sixty miles. The 
evangelist seldom preached less than an hour, and spoke 
with great earnestness. He was at times dramatic in man- 
ner. His sermons were full of the Gospel, presented, argued, 
illustrated, enforced in every way to carry light and con- 
viction and persuasion to the minds and hearts and wills of 
his hearers. He was thoroughly orthodox. The common 
people heard him gladly. The working classes from our 
rolling mills and manufactories and shops of every kind, 
after the day's work, would hasten to the service. The poor, 
the uneducated, were always ready to hear him. Some of 
the rich and fashionable and refined were not at home in 
the meetings. Religion was getting too common for them, 
too low, too obtrusive, too exciting. They could not com- 
prehend nor endure the sorrows and tears of the penitent, 
nor the joys and happiness of the reconciled who had found 
their Saviour. At the close of the sermon ail who desired to 
remain for conversation and inquiry upon the way of sal- 
vation were invited to do so. Often the entire audience 
would abide in their places, and the evangelist, with a large 
body of workers, the ministers present and earnest Christian 
laymen would pass through the house from pew to pew and 
seek to have a few words of personal appeal with those who 
had not come out on the Lord's side. Friends sought their 
impenitent friends, Sunday-school teachers sought their 
pupils, workmen sought their fellow-workmen. The 
roughest men of the city would be there, and moved by the 
strange scene, or by the singing of some sweet hymn, or the 
sermon, would wait for some one to come and talk to them 
about Christ and salvation. The lecture-room of the church 



262 



Centennial Memorial. 



was at times crowded with penitents seeking the peace of 
reconciliation with God. Marvellous scenes were witnessed 
that cannot here be rehearsed. There was no disorder and 
confusion for any one who was in harmony with the won- 
derful things that were transpiring. Religion was the 
supreme topic. The results were very marked. All the 
Churches of the city felt the power of the revival. The 
country round about the city, the village and towns from 
fifty to one hundred miles away were moved by reports 
of the meetings, and delegations came and saw and heard 
and carried away the sacred fire. Similar works of divine 
grace and power were wrought in the whole region. Many 
hundreds were received into the Churches. During that 
year this Church welcomed into its communion one 
hundred and forty -four persons. One hundred and twenty- 
five of them on confession of their faith. Upon one Sab- 
bath ninety-two were received, thirty-three of whom 
received baptism, the remainder having been baptized in 
infancy. 

That revival brought to this Church a marked change in 
its spirit and in its relations to society and the world. It 
had been somewhat shut up in itself. Its own families had 
been the objects of its greatest and tenderest care. Its outside 
work had been largely that of a missionary character. It 
was generous and liberal, and had welcomed into its Sunday- 
school and into the communion from the families of the 
working peoole and the poor, but it had gained, with some 
injustice, the reputation of being exclusive. The revival 
changed all this. Multitudes of the working people from 
our mills and shops and manufactories had found peace 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 263 

with God within these walls. They had been helped to 
Christ by the loving guidance of the officers and members 
ol this Church. They loved the place and they came in 
large numbers and knocked for admission at our doors. 
They felt at home here. They wanted the help and sym- 
pathy of Christians here in their new life. The doors of the 
Church were widely opened. From a membership of two 
hundred and forty before the revival, it reached one of three 
hundred and seventy -two after it, and the Sunday-school 
membership rose from four hundred and eight to seven 
hundred and thirty-seven. The Church became what all 
Churches should be, a Church of the people, and so it remains 
to this day, and, we trust, will ever remain. As in all past 
years it has been guided by the wisdom and intelligence and 
piety of its best members, so it will continue to be in all 
coming years, showing how the religion of the great Master 
can unite all classes of society in a loving and holy brother- 
hood. The revival, by bringing many into close connection 
with the Church and the Sunday-school, speedily drew forth 
the working power of Christian love in the newageucies which 
for the past few years have been such a glory to the Church : 
"The Cottage Prayennefiting," " The Sewing-School " of the 
Church, " The Societies of Christian Endeavor," and many 
other organizations for special forms of Christian work. The 
revival of 1875-1876 helped this Church to recognize the 
fact that as all men are equal before God, so in His Church 
there ought to be no respect of persons. In the Church the 
qualities of goodness and saintliness alone are to be recog- 
nized as honorable and distinguished. There is nothing to 
be more dreaded than the separation of classes in the house 



264 



Centennial Memorial. 



of God, or the separation of different houses of God to differ- 
ent classes. 

The rich, the intelligent, the professional classes, who go 
to worship where only those of their order go, are doing 
their best to lower real and true religion in the eyes of the 
poor, the ignorant, and the manual laboring people, and so 
provoke social revolutions and hatreds. The salt that will 
preserve society is sympathy and communion between all 
classes in the highest and most serious of all interests, the 
religious and everlasting. The Church must honor, not 
wealth or rank or social standing, but the soul and its spirit- 
ual fitness to serve God. Let master and workmen, the 
rich and the poor, come together in Christ before God, and 
they will learn that mutual respect and regard will do 
more for order and peace in the State than all legislation. 
This Church and the other Presbyterian Churches of the 
city, by drawing in all classes to Church fellowship, are doing 
a good work for the city of which it is likely they have taken 
no note. 

We had sad losses in our noble band of leaders from the 
Session of the Church, the brothers, Fleming, the elder of 
whom, R. Jackson Fleming, had for years led the service of 
song, and been a most faithful and consecrated worker in a 
mission among the colored people of the city that was 
transformed into the Elder Street Presbyterian Church, and 
the younger Dr. James Fleming, also for years a member of 
the choir, a teacher in the Sunday-school and at all times a 
Christian whose gentleness and consistency of character 
won for him universal esteem. The brothers, John A. and 
James W. Weir, whose names have already been mentioned 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 265 

and will always hold a loved and honorable place in the 
records of the Church ; the guileless, sterling and true- 
hearted Mordecai McKinney, poor in this world's goods, but 
rich in faith, modest as a little child, but brave in doing 
right as any martyr in all the Christian ages. 

Memory recalls a multitude of names that are intimately 
associated with the history of the congregation. The venerabl e 
Joseph Wallace, for many years a trustee and a treasurer of 
the congregation, a man of sterling worth and purest life ; 
John H. Briggs, among the foremost lawyers at the Bar, 
prominent in municipal affairs, for twenty-seven years a 
trustee of the congregation and for twenty-nine years a 
member of the Church, an able counsellor, a patriotic citizen 
and a generous friend ; Hon. David Fleming, lawyer and 
Senator, a trustee for many years, a member of the Church 
for over two score years, and a faithful and intelligent 
teacher in the Sunday-school for nearly, if not quite, a half 
century ; Dr. Edward L. Orth, the gentle, sympathetic and 
skillful physician in so many of our homes, who filled our 
hearts with grief by his sudden death at the opening of the 
war ; the hale and strong yet tender Dr. W. W. Rutherford, 
who for forty years practiced his profession and won and 
held the foremost place in it ; and, leaving unnamed many 
others towards whom so many of our hearts turn, yet two 
more who have passed from our midst since the close of the 
fourth pastorate must be mentioned, his Honor, Judge John 
J. Pearson, closing a long and honorable career at the age of 
eighty-eight years, with a reputation for signal fidelity to his 
high trusts, and a character beyond reproach, and Henry 
Gilbert whose life from boyhood was closely associated with 



266 



Centennial Memorial. 



this Church, who delighted to be its servant, and who pos- 
sessed in a remarkable degree the qualities of mind and 
heart that inspire esteem and trust and love. 

The additions made to the Ruling Eldership during the 
years of Dr. Robinson's sole pastorate were, in 1868: Dr. 
James Fleming, William S. Shaffer and Walter F. Fahne- 
stock, Jr.; on April 15, 1877 : James F. Purvis, Dr. Jacob A. 
Miller, Samuel J. M. McCarrell and Gilbert M. McCauley. 
Messrs. Purvis and Shaffer are serving other Churches in the 
same office, the former in Kansas, and the latter in the 
Olivet Church, of this city. Messrs. McCarrell, McCauley 
and Miller are still members of the Church Session, and to 
them were added, on March 20, 1887, Messrs. John C. 
Harvey and J. Henry Spicer. The complete roll of the 
Session during the hundred years of history now ended 
embraces thirty-five names, five Pastors and thirty Puling 
Elders. Among those elders may be found many who can- 
not be surpassed in the ability and the faithfulness with 
which they served the Church. 

During the closing years of the fourth pastorate, Market 
Square and Pine Street Churches grew in power and num- 
bers in Christian zeal, in organized and intelligent work, 
and new Churches were added to the forces of Presbyterian- 
ism in the city. The two older Churches have made 
splendid enlargements to their church buildings for Sun- 
day-school operations, and have organized mission enter- 
prises in needy parts of the city. These two Churches stand 
among the most prominent Churches in the denomination 
for their successful work among the young. Benevolent 
schemes in the city for the sick, for the poor, for the aged 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 267 

and for orphans have not appealed in vain to this Church 
for money, for labor and for counsel in their management. 
Noblest of all during these years, aside from that spiritual 
grace which nourished Christian lives and added the saved 
to the communion of believers, was the marvelous develop- 
ment of Christian activity and power among the women of 
the Church. Their names are conspicuous in the earliest 
records of the congregation. The history of their labors 
and sacrifices from the last century to this hour, and espec- 
ially for the last twenty-five years, needs volumes for its 
record and many hours for a fitting eulogy. It is with 
grief, mingled with most delightful memories, that only 
this passing allusion can be made to the quiet, but heroic, 
lives of the Christian women of this Church. 

In 1884 another change took place in the pastorate of the 
church. Its pastor received a call from the Western 
Theological Seminary at Allegheny, from which he had 
graduated thirty years before, to the Re-Union Professorship 
of Sacred Rhetoric, Church Government and Pastoral 
Theology. After a prayerful consideration of the matter 
for several months, he came to the conclusion that it was 
his duty to accept the call, and so announced to the Church. 
At a meeting of the Presbytery of Carlisle, held on April 
9, 1884, the pastoral relationship between him and this 
Church was dissolved, and Dr. Robinson was appointed to 
declare the pulpit vacant on the first Sabbath in June. 
This Church was represented at that meeting of the 
Presbytery by Messrs. S. J. M. McCarrell, Charles L. 
Bailey, M. W. McAlarney and William S. Shaffer, who 
presented a strong protest from the congregation against 



268 



Centennial Memorial. 



the severance of the bonds between it and the pastor. He 
continued 'to supply the pulpit until the last Sabbath in 
June, the thirtieth anniversary of his first sermon to the 
congregation in 1854. 

At a meeting of the congregation held October 6, 1884, 
the Rev. George Black Stewart of Auburn, N. Y., was unan- 
imously elected to fill the vacant pastorate. Mr. Stewart is 
a graduate of Princeton College and pursued his theological 
studies at both McCormick and Auburn Theological 
Seminaries and for five years was pastor of the Calvary 
Presbyterian Church of Auburn, N. Y. The call was 
accepted by him and on January 2, 1885, he was installed 
by the Presbytery of Carlisle as the fifth in the line of 
pastors, during a hundred years in the history of this 
Church. Nine years have now passed since this relationship 
was established. They have been years of unexampled 
activity and growth, surpassing all former years. All 
departments of church work have been invigorated, and 
new agencies have been created. The spirit of consecrated 
love and work has fallen upon the Church. Though this 
Church has reached the maturity of an hundred years its 
"eye is not dim nor is its natural force abated." There are 
no wrinkles of age upon it nor any signals of weariness. 
Its courts are thronged upon the Sabbath with worshipers, 
and its schools are filled with the students of divine things. 
Its places of weekly prayer are the resort of Christ's dis- 
ciples. There is no going backward, but onward rather to 
meet the greater light and the larger responsibilities of the 
twentieth century. There is no defection in its teachings. 
Its pulpit is true to the word of God and to the immemorial 




George Black Stewart. 

1885. 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 269 

faith of Christ's Church. It utters no uncertain and doubtful 
sound. Its tireless, broad-minded and consecrated occupant 
may be trusted to lead into no path that is not illumined 
by the light that falls from the Holy Scriptures and 
marked by the footprints of good men, and of the great 
Captain of our salvation. The Ruling Elders who are 
associated with him in the spiritual guidance of the Church, 
have been wisely selected and have approved themselves as 
worthy successors of the noble men who preceded them. 
During the present pastorate the Church has most wisely 
renewed the office oi the Deacon vacant in the Church 
since the death of a good old man of the earlier days, 
Ebenezer Ward in 1864. He died at an advanced age and 
for many years had laid aside the duties of the office. May 
the Deacons of this Church serve well and so "gain to them- 
selves a good standing and great boldness in the faith 
which is in Christ Jesus." 

By reason of the enlarged labors of the pastorate of the 
Church and the growth of its mission enterprise in the lower 
part of the city the employment of an assistant to the pastor 
became a necessity. During the summer months of 1889 
Mr. David M. Skilling, a member of the Senior class of 
Western Theological Seminary, entered upon these duties 
and so securely won the regard of the Church that upon his 
graduation in May, 1890, he was recalled to the work and 
has remained until this day. He has been fully ordained 
to the ministry. The mission has grown under his fostering 
care in numbers and spiritual power. The congregation 
and the Sunday-school are already the strong foundation 
for an active and successful Church. Through the large 



270 



Centennial Memorial. 



generosity of members of this Church the mission has been 
provided with a stone chapel of elegant architecture and 
all the needed furniture of a house of worship. Mr. Skil- 
ling has brought to his field the scholarship and training 
of many years of college and seminary study and the con- 
secration of a heart and life wholly devoted to the service 
of Christ. 

I have left unsaid many of the things I most greatly de- 
sired to say. There are names unspoken in the heart that 
I wished to utter with words of veneration and praise. 
What a record of noble and saintly lives might be gathered 
from this century of years. What toils and strong purposes 
and love have gone into the uplifting of this Church of 
God here. What a history of prayers, of teaching and 
preaching, of glad sacrifices for God and for man, of souls 
born into the life that is everlasting, of Christian graces 
growing into splendid maturity, of a Christian faith that 
amid the decays of nature and in the chamber of death 
was radiant with the certainties of that world that is im- 
mortal. We have seen them as they reached the brink of 
the " deep river," and from their faces have caught what 
seemed like a "reflection of the sunbeams upon the city 
that is pure gold." 

One hundred years ! They take us back to a time that 
Bushnell has called " the Age of Homespun." The fathers 
and mothers who laid the foundations here were simply 
worthy men and women. They were sensible, wise-headed, 
upright men and women of plain and godly virtues. They 
never thought of being famous or historic. But from the 
rare simplicity and the homely virtues of that age we draw 




David Miller Skilling. 

Pastor's Assistant, 1891. 



Historical Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 271 

our royal lineage. Our inheritance has come from their 
sturdiness in well-doing and their reverent love of the 
things that are true and good. The greatest thoughts that 
brewed in their minds were thoughts of religion and of 
God. Little deemed they that the hundred years through 
which their successors and heirs have lived would form the 
most remarkable century in human history. 

The " Grand Old Man," of England, who is about to lay 
down the work of his wonderful life, has said, that if he 
had been given his choice in what period of the world to 
live, he would have chosen the Nineteenth Century. It 
has been the age of invention and of discovery, the age of 
political change, of advancing science and art, of human 
liberty and of religious progress. What we possess to-day 
of privilege and power, of blessing and of hope, is but an 
heirloom. We have entered into the labors of our fathers. 
This Century Plant did not spring up in a night. The past 
was at its planting and many years have waited on its 
growth. The best spirits of three generations have been 
our benefactors. By the patience and courage, by the self- 
denials and the prayers of the hundreds of men and women 
who here loved their fellow-men, and served their God, this 
Church now stands on its height of attainment. Let us 
honor those who made us what we are. Let us bow our 
heads in gratefulness to the fathers and mothers who left 
us, not hoarded saving of perishing gold, but the memory 
and the power of their Christian lives. Some of them like 
the divinely-gifted James W. Weir stand forth with a bril- 
liance all their own and unrivalled, but love weaves its gar- 
land's for hundreds of others who lived for us and left us 



272 



Centennial Memorial. 



their precious inheritance. Into the sympathy and goodly 
fellowship of these men and women who walked with the 
Son of God let us hasten to enter and there abide. By the 
goodness of our lives and by the fulness of our devotion to 
truth and to Christ, let us see to it, that by the close of the 
twentieth century, freedom and religion are high advanced 
towards the millenium. 

At the conclusion of Dr. Robinson's address, Dr. Stewart 
announced Luther's Battle Hymn of the Reformation. 

Our God stands firm, a rock and tow'r, 

A shield when danger presses ; 
A ready help in ev'ry hour 

When doubt or pain distresses ; 
For our malignant foe 

Unswerving aims his blow ; 
His fearful arms the while, 

Dark pow'r and darker guile ; 
His hidden craft is matchless. 

Our strength is weakness in the fight, 

Our courage soon defection ; 
But comes a Warrior clad in might, 

A Prince of God's election ; 
Who is this wondrous Chief 

That brings this glad relief ? 
The field of battle boasts, 

Christ Jesus, Lord of hosts. 
Still conq'ring and to conquer. 

Then, Lord ! arise ; lift up thine arm, 

With mighty succor stay us ; 
Oh, turn aside the deadly harm 

When Satan would betray us, 



Historical Evening. 



273 



That rescued by thy hand, 

In triumph we may stand, 
And round thy footstool crowd 

In joy to sing aloud 
High praise to our Redeemer. 

As the audience joined heartily with the choir in singing 
the stately measures of Ein. feste Burg, it seemed a most 
fitting culmination of the praise to the great Head of the 
Church for his kind providence and infinite grace toward 
this people. Kev. David M. Skilling led the congregation 
in repeating the Lord's Prayer. The Benediction was pro- 
nounced by the Rev. Dr. Robinson, and the service con- 
cluded with the Chorus in E Flat composed by Guilmant. 



FBI DAY ETEIING. 

February the 16th, 1894, at 7.30 o'clock. 



Social Reception. 
Amiel in his Journal Intime makes some philosophical 
observations concerning social amenities. He looks upon 
social gatherings as occasions when ''intellect and taste hold 
festival, and the associations of reality are exchanged for 
the associations of the imagination," and he adds : "Paradox 
or no, I believe that these fugitive attempts to reconstruct 
a dream whose only end is beauty, represent confused rem- 
iniscences of an age of gold haunting the human heart, 
or rather aspirations towards a harmony of things which 
everyday reality denies to us, and of which art alone gives 
us a glimpse." It must have been unconscious obedience 
to some such law as this which led the committee to plan 
the closing feature of Centennial Week. It was certainly a 
most happy thought which devised the social reception of 
Friday night. And it was a happy thought most admirably 
executed. The Reception Committee had a difficult task to 
perform. The problems confronting it were complex and 
full of unknown factors. Necessarily many of their arrange- 
ments were dependent upon the probable number of guests 
they would have to provide for, yet these arrangements had 
to be completed before this could possibly be known. It 
is no small praise when we say that their arrangements 
were perfect and admirably adapted to the circumstances, 
that they secured to those present a most enjoyable evening, 



276 



Centennial Memorial. 



and concluded the Centennial observances with a brilliant 
success. This committee with Mrs. Gilbert M. McGauley as 
chairman arranged the Sunday-school rooms in a tasteful and 
attractive manner, and provided ample refreshments for the 
twelve hundred to fifteen hundred guests. The Committee 
of Ushers with Mr. Peter K. Sprenkel as chairman ably as- 
sisted the Reception Committee in contributing to the com- 
fort of the large company. This committee provided a cloak- 
room for the checking of hats and outer garments, which 
proved to be a great convenience. In addition to these two 
committees valuable help was rendered by the young people 
in distributing refreshments and in other ways. Among 
those who thus assisted were Misses Martha Worden McAlar- 
ney, Louisa A. Hickok, Anna Orth, Caroline Moffitt, Roberta 
Orth, Mary Hamilton, Nannie Orr, Caroline Bigler, Mary 
Fleming, Helen Boyd, Eva Vandling, Margaret Hamilton, 
Marion Weiss ; Messrs. Ira Bishop, George Ridgway, Horace 
Segelbaum, John P. Kelker, George Martin, Charles Hickok; 
Masters Harris Stewart, John Hart McAlarney, George 
Stewart. 

The night was clear and cold with bright stars above and 
the creaking snow beneath. The people early began to 
gather and evidently came prepared for a happy time, and 
they had it. The receiving party stood in the Intermediate 
Sunday-school room, and consisted of Dr. and Mrs. Stewart, 
Dr. and Mrs. Robinson, Mr. Skilling, and the Invitation 
Committee, consisting of Charles L. Bailey, David Fleming, 
Jr., Mrs. Julia A. Briggs, Mrs. David Fleming, Alexander 
Roberts, John H. Weiss, Dr. Jacob A. Miller, Mrs. Sarah 
Doll, Mrs. Jacob S. Haldeman, Miss Sibyl M. Weir, Samuel 



Social Reception. 



277 



D. Ingram, George W. Boyd, Lyman D. Gilbert. The hun- 
dreds of guests as they arrived were cordially received and 
made to feel at home. There was no lack of good fellow- 
ship. Because of the large number present the committees 
early began to serve the refreshments, and were kept busy 
throughout the whole evening. 

About eight o'clock the impromptu musical programme 
began in the lecture-room. Messrs. Henry A. Kelker, Jr., 
J. F. Hutchinson, H. L. Vance, Charles F. Etter and Frank 
S. Morrow, members of the Harrisburg Banjo Club, played 
with spirit and precision two numbers. Mrs. Frank R. 
Schell and Mrs. David Fleming, Jr., gave as a piano duet, 
the overture to " Rienzi," by Wagner, in which their fine 
musical taste and skill were made evident. The voices of 
Messrs. George R. Fleming, Edward Z. Gross, William G. 
Underwood, and Lucius S. Bigelow, the Mendelssohn Quar- 
tette, blended perfectly in the ballads, so dear to the people's 
heart, " The Miller of Dee," " Ben Bolt," " Annie Laurie," 
" Blue Bells of Scotland." The surging throng which 
filled the social rooms made it difficult for hearing this 
excellent music. 

At the same time, in the auditorium, a large company 
gathered to listen to the addresses given by some of the 
guests of the evening. 

After Miss Reba Bunton and Mr. George R. Fleming had 
delighted the audience with the duet, " They Shall Hunger 
No More," in Gaul's cantata, "The Holy City," and Mr. 
Fleming had increased the delight by a solo, Coenen's 
" Come Unto Me," Mr. Stewart, the Minister of the Church, 
said : This is a flexible audience, and so is everything else 



278 



Centennial Memorial. 



to-night. There is nothing stiff or formal about this occa- 
sion. This is an evening of freedom and spontaneous good 
fellowship. It gives me very great pleasure to introduce 
the presiding officer of the evening, the Honorable John 
B. McPherson of Harrisburg, late of Lebanon. 

The President. Ladies and Gentlemen : Two or three 
of us were talking this afternoon as we were coming down 
the Bank and were wondering why it was that when 
Americans get together — and I suppose it is equally true 
of all English speaking-people — they always want two 
things; one is speech-making, and singularly enough the 
other is brevity in the speeches. The two do not always 
go together; but the effort this evening is to have them 
both; you will have several speeches, and I think you 
will have them short. 

I will not refer to the reasons which make it most gratify- 
ing for me to be here on this occasion, but there is one 
suggestion which perhaps may touch others in the audience 
as well as myself. It is certainly most inspiriting to one 
who has anything to do with a small church, with a church 
that is struggling to live and is in the beginning of things, 
to come and see what is the result here of all these years 
of effort, and to reflect that after all somebody must go 
through the early stages of despondency, and that it may 
as well fall to your lot or to mine as to the lot of others. I 
am sure for such a person it will be easy this evening to 
get some inspiration and encouragement. 

It is probably quite clear by this time of the week that 
the English Presbyterian Church of Harrisburg is cele- 
brating its Centennial, but I hasten to add — and I believe 



Remarks by Dr. William C. Cattell 279 

I am expressing your sentiments as well as my own — that 
it has never seemed to me as if our brethren of the Pine 
Street Church were really a separate Church. They shared 
our common worship for sixty-five years : there have been, 
and there are, so many ties between us, and those ties have 
been so intimate and so continuous during the last thirty- 
five years, that it never has seemed as if the churches were 
separate, but rather as if they were parts of the same con- 
gregation worshiping in different buildings. In that spirit 
I would like to present to you a gentleman whose name 
and face are not only familiar to you all, but are known 
and honored wherever the Presbyterian faith is honored 
throughout the land ; I would like to call upon him as one 
who was formerly an associate pastor of the Presbyterian 
Church of Harrisburg — Dr. Cattell. 

Remarks by Dr. William C. Cattell. 

I have taken a couple of days out of a very busy life, and 
have traveled many miles that I might be present at this 
Presbyterian reunion. For here in Harrisburg the happiest 
years of my life were spent. I have indeed happy memor- 
ies of other places where I have lived, especially of Easton, 
where, among a refined and cultured people, I spent nearly 
thirty years, engaged in a work that awakened my highest 
enthusiasm, and that brought me into intimate relations 
with beloved colleagues in the Faculty and with the young 
and joyous life of college boys. Yet, I say frankly to you 
here, as I say everywhere, that my heart is in Harrisburg 
It was only four brief years that I lived here, but those were 
years in which I occupied a position which I believe to be 



280 



Centennial Memorial. 



the most blessed and delightful that can fall to the lot of 
man. I was the Pastor of a kind, loving, united people. So 
long as I live shall I cherish in my heart of hearts the 
memory of their love and loyalty which made my sacred 
work among them a supreme joy. I can say now, after the 
lapse of thirty years, what I said in my last words to them 
from the pulpit as I turned away from my happy home 
here to resume my college work at Easton: "I thank my 
God upon every remembrance of you" That was the text, as 
some of you may recall, from which I preached my 
farewell sermon. 

But the memories which have so endeared Harrisburg to 
me are not exclusively those connected with the people of 
my old pastoral charge. I had not lived here long without 
finding that in this "mother church," at whose invitation 
we are here to-night, were some of the most lovable people 
that ever lived. 

Let me remind you that Harrisburg, in 1860, was only a 
large town, containing not much over fifteen thousand 
inhabitants. What were then open fields are now streets 
of closely-built houses. The palatial residences, everywhere 
to be seen now, were then unknown. The life here, a gen- 
eration ago, was plainer and simpler than it can be in the 
great and busy city to which Harrisburg has now grown. 
People got to know each other easily. Neighbor was 
another name for friend, and the " neighborhood " was 
widely extended. It was, therefore, not long before the 
young Pastor of the Pine Street Church found that there 
were other good people here besides those of his own fold, 
although they, first and last and always, were the nearest to 



Remarks by Dr. William C. Cattell. 



281 



his heart. Naturally, he found these good people, first of all, 
and the most blessed of them all, in the old "mother 
church," and the friendships formed among them I have 
sacredly cherished all these years. 

And so I rejoice to be here to-night. Many, indeed, of 
those I loved in this Church, and in my old pastoral charge 
have gone to the better land. Yet many remain. And it 
has been a great joy to me, as I passed through these 
crowded rooms, to take one and another by the hand — the 
two congregations so intermingled that those from one could 
hardly be distinguished from those of the other. Their 
kind greeting will be a precious memory to me for the rest 
of my life. 

Yonder is my dear and honored brother, Dr. Robinson, 
who, as Pastor of this Church, so cordially welcomed me to 
Harrisburg nearly thirty-five years ago. We were both 
young men then. In his presence I should hardly dare to 
say about him all that is in my heart. But this I dare say 
While he has been called to a high position as a professor 
in one of our oldest theological seminaries, and the whole 
Presbyterian Church holds him in deserved honor, his old 
people here, and all of us who knew him, claim him to be 
in a special sense " our Doctor Robinson." Our respect for 
him and our personal love strengthen as the years go by. 

And what shall I say of Dr. DeWitt, the venerable senior 
Pastor of this Church when I came to Harrisburg? I looked 
up to him with a reverence I have felt for few men. Of all 
those articles of historic interest collected in the adjoining 
room well worthy of days of careful study, nothing has so 
attracted me as the portrait of this venerable man. I stood 



Centennial Memorial. 



long before it to-day, gazing upon those benign and well- 
remembered features, and recalling his rare and beautiful 
old age as he went in and out among the people whom he 
had so lovingly and so faithfully and so ably served for 
nearly half a century. Even in the declining years of his 
life he was a preacher of rare power. I recall a sermon I 
heard him preach shortly after T came to Harrisburg. A 
large tent was pitched upon the Capitol grounds in which 
meetings were held after the manner of the evangelistic 
services now so common. The patriarch took for his text, 
" Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as 
snow ; though they be red like crimson they shall be as 
wool." Never shall I forget the deep impression made upon 
the great assembly as the silver-haired man, with a voice 
trembling with emotion, and in language of classic purity 
characteristic of all his sermons, pleaded with his hearers to 
accept God's mercy so fully and freely offered in the gospel. 
All around me were men in tears ! 

There comes to me a pleasant memory connecting Dr. 
DeWitt with our own services in the new church dedicated 
in 1860. Dr. Gurley, of Washington City, preached in the 
morning, and Dr. Burt, of Baltimore, in the evening, when 
this church was closed and both congregations met together 
and sent their prayers and sacred songs heavenward from 
the same altar. The next clay I called upon Dr. DeWitt 
and invited him to preach on the following Sunday morn- 
ing. He at once, and with his usual courtesy, accepted the 
invitation. But I saw he was under the impression that I 
had invited him as " a supply " in view of my absence from 



Remarks by Dr. William C. Cattell. 283 

home that day, and I said to him : " No, Dr. DeWitt, I 
could not be away from my people when the very first 
sermon is preached to them in the regular ministration of 
the gospel after the exceptional exercises of the dedication. 
I shall be in the pulpit with you. But it is more fitting 
that this first sermon shall be preached by you than by the 
Pastor of the Church. You are the honored father of us all." 
And I shall never forget the pleased look with which the 
patriarch recognized that the invitation to him was intended, 
not to fill a vacancy occasioned by my absence, but to em- 
phasize the high appreciation in which he was held by 
the community in which his whole ministerial life had 
been spent. 

I should like to recall other pleasant memories I have of 
Dr. DeWitt and of the members of this Church whom I 
knew and loved in those far off days, especially among the 
elders ; and I should not hesitate to name first of all that 
eminent man of God, Mr. James W. Weir. But there are 
other speakers to follow, and the reminiscences that crowd 
upon me would detain you too long. 

But there comes to me a sad memory to which I must 
briefly refer — the civil war, which, during the last three 
years of my pastorate, transformed our hitherto quiet and 
peaceful town into one vast camp of soldiers. Their tents 
were pitched not only in the open fields around us, but in 
the public grounds and even in the streets. Preaching by 
their camp fires and ministering in the great hospitals soon 
established for the sick and wounded, all the pastors here 
found new and most sacred duties added to the work among 



284 



Centennial Memorial. 



their own people. Our congregations upon the Sabbath day 
were at times almost broken up with the excitement and 
stir and confusion that everywhere prevailed. On that 
Sunday — I remember it well — when the skirmish occurred 
at Oyster's Point, but three or four miles from the city and 
we could plainly hear the booming of the cannon, the con- 
gregation of the Pine Street Church numbered exactly 
twelve ! But in those dark days pastors and people in all 
the churches seemed to be drawn nearer to each other as 
all drew nearer to the throne to which their petitions were 
sent for that help of which we all stood in such need. The 
darkness around us deepened as the months slowly passed 
away. In fact, in the second invasion of Pennsylvania by 
the confederates under General Lee, Harrisburg became a 
beleaguered city. Intrenchments for its defense were thrown 
up on the opposite bank of the river — I myself worked upon 
them with pick and shovel ! All the State archives were 
hurriedly removed for safety ; women and children fled 
from their homes. The sentinels were still keeping watch 
and guard upon those outworks for the defense of the city 
when I took leave of this dear place in the fall of 1863 — 
though in my farewell words from the pulpit to my beloved 
people, I could even then point them to the star of hope 
shining through the riven clouds of the war and betokening 
the near hour when the fratricidal strife would be ended 
and the restored Republic rise to a higher and nobler life. 

But I will not detain you longer. Let me, as I take my 
seat, thank you, Mr. President, for your kind words of 
welcome this evening to the people of the Pine Street 



Remarks by Dr. William C. Cattell. 



285 



Church as, with their first Pastor and the beloved man who 
now ministers to them in sacred things, they are gathered 
here with hearty congratulations, and best wishes and fervent 
prayers for the dear old mother Church. We highly appre- 
ciate such greeting from a man like yourself, whose Chris- 
tian character and eminent endowments add luster to the 
high judicial office you hold. And upon all the congrega- 
tion and their honored Pastor, whom I, too, like his own 
people, have learned to admire and love, I fervently invoke 
the continued and increasing favor of Almighty God. 

The President: I need not remind you who was the 
first pastor of this Church. I do not intend to eulogize him 
after the address to which you had the pleasure of listening 
last night, but I may say that he must have been of remark- 
ably good stock. Probably his harmonious balance of 
faculty was nowhere more admirably shown than in his 
selection of this congregation as one of his early fields of 
labor, and the congregation, I have no doubt, showed an 
equal balance of good judgment when they selected him as 
their first pastor. 

We are exceedingly fortunate to-night in having two of 
his grandsons with us, who illustrate the excellence of the 
stock. Mr. Snowden's descendants have been distinguished 
in all the departments in which men can win distinction 
for themselves in civil, military and diplomatic life, and if 
there is any other position of trust or honor to which they 
have not yet attained, I am sure they are now upon the way 
to its attainment. I will call first upon General Snowden, 
grandson of the first Pastor of the Church. 



286 



Centennial Memorial. 



Remarks by Major General George R. Snowden. 

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: I am very 
glad to be here with you to-night on this interesting 
and historic occasion. A friend remarked to me not 
long since, that he thought I was a much better Presby- 
terian in theory than in practice. Without disputing his 
opinion, I confess to be among the best Presbyterians in 
theory. Because I believe that any man or woman raised 
in the Presbyterian Church, in her Sunday-schools, under 
the sound of the gospel as it has been preached from her 
pulpits in this country for the past 200 years, must realize 
that our civil institutions are based if not upon the con- 
fession of faith and the shorter chatechism at least upon her 
form of government. The theory of our federal union is 
based upon the form of government of the Presbyterian 
Church, as was once wisely said by Chief Justice Tilghman. 
The first principle of Presbyterian polity is republicanism. 
It is based upon the consent and intelligence alike of the 
governing and the governed. I do not think it too much 
to say that had not our Presbyterian forefathers come to 
this country and advanced to the Cumberland Valley, we 
would not now be living in a land of civil and religious 
liberty, wisely said by the Puritan poet, Milton, to be the 
most precious of all our earthly possessions. When the 
pioneers of this Church went forward to the wilderness they 
took with them the Bible and established the meeting 
house and the school. 

There are no doubt sections of the country more noted in 
history than yours. Philadelphia has the State House and 
the Bell, and the achievements of New England have been 



Remarks by Major General George R. Snowden. 287 

celebrated by poet and historian. Our ancestors rushing 
on to clear the wilderness, to drive back the savage, to open 
the West to settlement, were too busy making history, to 
have time to write it. It is very gratifying now to see that 
in the last few years the deeds of Pennsylvanians are be- 
coming better known. They were as distinguished, and our 
ancestors were as earnest and active in the Revolution as 
the patriots of Massachusetts, Virginia, or of any other part 
of our country. This section not so famous in history or 
known abroad as it ought to be, is one which can refer 
with the greatest pride to its course in the Revolution, to 
the part which it took in securing Independence and the 
Union. The spirit of patriotism was so strong that persons 
suspected of luke-warmness to the cause were subjected to 
trial and punishment as well in the church as the civil 
courts. It is no wonder considering the character of the 
early settlers of these valleys that here was recruited the most 
distinguished regiment which ever carried the flag, bearing 
it aloft in honor from Quebec to Yorktown, the First Con- 
tinental. The men who went forth from Paxtang, Silvers' 
Spring, Carlisle and Chambersburg were ever at the front 
and yielded to none in devotion to the cause to which they 
pledged themselves and their fortunes. 

From your valley proceeded South and West influences 
which led to the success of the Revolution and the formation 
of the Union. We have the authority of Washington that 
without the Presbyterians the cause would have failed. 
The swarms of Presbyterians, like bees, industrious but quick, 
if disturbed, to sting, which settled here and went on to 
the Southwest were the men who won the battle of King's 



288 



Centennial Memorial. 



Mountain, and forced Cornwallis to Yorktown where he 
surrendered to the genius of Washington. The Declaration 
at Mecklenburg preceded that of Philadelphia. Our ancestors 
took a prominent and influential part in achieving the 
liberties of the American people and in forming the plan of 
government under which the country has so greatly grown 
and prospered. 

It is the advantage of our free institutions that they 
develope the character of the individual citizen. I recollect 
very well when quite young commanding a company in 
the Army of the Potomac hearing the men in the ranks 
talk of their duty. Nearly all of them were from the hum- 
blest walks in life, yet they seriously considered the 
obligations resting upon them ; they felt that they were 
fighting for the liberties of themselves and of their posterity, 
every man carrying a musket realizing that the success of 
the war was his individual concern. No armies of other 
countries could ever have that personal and patriotic senti- 
ment. Those who march under the brilliant colors of 
England, Germany, or Russia cannot comprehend, for they 
have never felt, that sense of manhood and of citizenship 
which the American citizen entertained when he went forth 
as a volunteer. I speak of this, ladies and gentlemen, other- 
wise it might be out of place on this occasion, simply 
because I believe it to be largely owing to the teachings and 
the traditions of the Presbyterian Church. It was born in 
persecution ; its flourished in spite of all assaults made upon 
it by weapons spiritual and militant, co reduce to servitude 
men who believed in this Bible. They drew from the 
teachings of the New Testament that all men are created 



Remarks by Major General George R. Snowden. 289 

free and equal ; they believed that government is justly 
based upon the right of every man to a voice in it, and 
they learned from experience the necessity of every man's 
being ready when occasion requires with strong arm and 
resolute heart to defend his principles. The Scotch-Irish 
especially, coming into your valley, founded a community 
based upon liberty, upon the belief that man is capable and 
ought to govern himself. 

There are not as many Presbyterians in the country as 
there should be ; there ought to be more of them. I do not 
speak of the religious doctrines of the Church, others more 
capable have done so. But its polity I do not believe is 
equaled by any other religious organization in the world, 
and it is superior to all in unswerving and uncompro- 
mising devotion to civil and religious liberty. From its 
formation to the present its voice has ever been for the 
right of man to govern himself, to worship his Creator 
according to the dictates of his own conscience and to 
maintain that no one can come between him and his 
Master. It would, therefore, be better for the country if 
there were more Presbyterians, better for the welfare and 
permanence of our civil institutions. But there are enough 
of them, as we believe, to preserve our liberties to the 
remotest generation; at least enough to stand forth on 
every battlefield, in peace or war, to indicate these sacred 
principles. As long as the Presbyterian Church shall 
endure, to the end of time there will be a strong, perhaps a 
dominating element in the land which will have a con- 
trolling voice in higher politics, tending to the perfection 
and perpetuity of our free institutions. 



290 



Centennial Memorial. 



At the conclusion of General Snowden's address, Miss 
Bunton sang with fine expression, " The Angel Came," by 
F. H. Cowen. 

The President: I spoke of two grandsons, you will re- 
member, and it gives me pleasure to say that the gentleman 
who will next address you has, like his cousin to whom you 
have just listened, a claim of his own upon your attention. 
He is not only the grandson of the first pastor of the 
church, but he is also one of the most distinguished mem- 
bers of the Pennsylvania bar — Mr. Ross Thompson, of Erie. 

Remarks by Col. J. Ross Thompson. 

Mr. President, Ladies and Gcntlemen: I am much 
indebted to the pastor of this church, Dr. Stewart, and some 
warm friends for a kind invitation to be present and par- 
ticipate in the interesting ceremonies commemorating the 
Centennial anniversary of this church, of which my grand- 
father was the first pastor. 

The one hundredth anniversary of the origin of this 
church naturally takes the mind's eye back over the records 
of the past and grasps in the stupendous results of these 
years and the wonderful strides taken in science and arts. 
Monarchies have risen and fallen. Republics, like meteors, 
have flashed across the pages of history. Wars of most 
stupendous character, involving momentous questions and 
fates of nations, have been waged. The pages of history are 
full of startling events, all in the life time of this church. 

Steam, with its wonderful transporting powers, the elec- 
tric wire encircling the earth, and on the wings of the 
lighting, carrying messages to the antipodes, the iron horse, 



Remarks by Col. J. Ross Thompson. 



291 



the steam railroad, the steam boat, the sewing machine, 
the photograph and the thousands of inventions useful to 
mankind, have come into play in the life of this church. 

In the centennial celebration of the adoption of the Fed- 
eral Constitution, at Philadelphia, I saw an object lesson 
in the strides in transportation in the last one hundred 
years. First in the procession came the pack horses, with 
pack saddles, the first mode of transportation, then follow- 
ing the pack horses came the old Conestoga wagons, follow- 
ing this came the canal boat, following this a corps of civil 
engineers with their instruments, their levels and transits, 
following them the workingmen with the shovels and picks, 
next came the old fashioned locomotive, following this the 
modern engine of sixty tons, then the old fashioned railroad 
coaches, next the new and palatial cars, winding up with 
the grand Pulman palace car. Starting with the pack 
horse and winding up with the palace car, demonstrating 
the wonderful progress of transportation within the hundred 
years of this church. Our ancestors came here in the days 
of the pack horse and pack saddle. This was then the only 
mode of transportation. 

In the same procession there was another object lesson, 
illustrating in a like manner the progress of civilization and 
the Christianized results of the work of the churches and 
within the life time of this church. I saw this procession 
headed by the savage Indians from the plains* decked in 
full war paint and the feathers of the untrained and un- 
civilized savage ; following behind the men on horse back 
came a great array of little people dressed in gray, not with 



V 



292 



Centennial Memorial. 



bows and arrows, but in their little arms carrying slates and 
pencils, and figuring and ciphering upon those slates. 

Following them came the Indian girls in wagons working 
at the industries their Christian sisters worked upon ; I saw 
them followed by the young Indians working at the trades, 
some at the saddler's and some at the tinsmith's trade. 
Starting in with the savage at the front and winding up 
with the Christianized man in the end. This in the age of 
this Church; from savagery to Christianity. I thought then 
of the grand school at Carlisle, where those Indians were 
educated, and of Carlisle as the home of my ancestors. The 
thought of those Indians at Carlisle recalled an incident in 
the life of my grandmother, the wife of Rev. Nathaniel R. 
Snowden, who resided there. The father of my grandmother 
was in Wyoming at the time of the massacre by the Indians. 
The Indian chief knew Dr. Gustine. My grandmother was 
a small child at the time. The chieftain had saved Dr. 
Gustine from the tomahawk and scalping knife of the 
Indians. As you recall, a portion of the massacre occurred 
in the day time. When night approached Brandt, the half- 
breed chieftain, took Dr. Gustine with his little daughter 
down to the Susquehanna, putting Dr. Gustine and his little 
girl into a canoe, told him to paddle for his life. He 
paddled down the Susquehanna to Harris Ferry, now 
Harrisburg, and went from thence to Carlisle with his 
daughter, who afterwards became the mother of my mother. 
I thought of that circumstance in relation to the Indian and 
the civilization marked in this century. I would say, Mr 
President, that if the spirit of my grandfather should come 
down here to-day to see the strides made in this great 



Remarks by Col. J. Ross Thompson. 



293 



Church, to see this vast building with its beautiful arrange- 
ments, its organ, its beautiful windows, and would think of 
the little church he held over the jail, he would see in this 
one of the most wonderful strides made in the last hundred 
years. 

I feel when I am talking here that I am talking, Mr. 
President, upon the ground that my ancestors occupied. I 
feel that when I am talking here I am recalling reminis- 
censes to people who are as much interested in them as I am 
myself. I can recall many curious things in my days. 
Some of you that are as old know that back in those days 
we did not have any hymn books. We had what we called 
the clerk, who sat in front of the pulpit. He had his tuning 
fork and would read off two lines and away we would go 
and then we would try again, then all would join in and 
sing. Some of you will recall this. There was a very 
peculiar characteristic of the preaching when I was quite a 
lad. I can recall with vividness, they always began with 
firstly, then secondly, lastly, allow me to conclude, and let 
me add. These things generally took about two hours and 
a half. Then, too, the prayers. They were very able 
prayers, but they were powerfully long. I recall when I 
was a lad visiting my grandfather's house that he always 
had prayers evening and morning. I could always tell 
when the old gentleman was about half through, for at this 
point he always prayed for the downfall of the Pope of 
Rome, the anti-Christ. 

I want to say that in those days in my youth there were 
not the Christian liberality and spirit prevailing as to-day. 
We can recall how we Old School Presbyterians warred with 



294 



Centennial Memorial. 



the New School, and how we warred with other denomina- 
tions. But there is a Christian liberality all prevailing. It 
seems sometimes to me as if while not agreeing on the non- 
essentials, we all agree on the essentials. 

My grandfather was very happy in his later days when 
he could mount his old iron-gray horse, and with his old 
saddle bags, travel to some brother pastor's church and 
preach on Sunday. The old gentleman always spoke 
kindly of Harrisburg. I have heard him say that when he 
preached here it was scarcely a village. My mother was 
born in this town. I feel as I am talking to-night that I 
am talking to old friends of my family and myself. My 
grandfather preached in various places throughout the 
State, but he always had a kind corner in his heart for 
Harrisburg and Harrisburg people He often spoke of his 
church here and of the kindness of the people, and that 
some of the happiest days of his life had been spent in the 
city, or then village, for it was not even a borough, of Har- 
risburg. He belonged to the Old School of cast-iron Pres- 
byterianism. He belonged to that class of men that Gen. 
Snowden spoke about, who, with the axe on one shoulder 
and the rifle on the other, went into the virgin forests, and 
cleared them away and also drove out the savages. He 
belonged to that stern class of Presbyterianism that in the 
West sat with the Bible on top of the pulpit and the rifle 
in the corner. These Presbyterians swarmed through here 
into the Western States, diverging into those Western States 
and conquering them. I am proud of the Presbyterian 
Church, the Church of my grandparents, my parents, the 
Church whose mark has been made in the history of our 



Remarks by Rev, Henry E. Niles. 295 



common country. A Church that did more than any other 
in winning the great West, the Church that has stood by 
the country in all times of distress and trouble. A Church 
that has produced more great divines, more great statesmen 
than any other. A grand Church laboring in the cause of 
religion and humanity and will continue its work until 
time shall be no more. 

The President: I quite agree with General Snowden, that 
there ought to be more Presbyterians. Still, they are by no 
means a feeble folk or few in number. This region contains 
many of them, and in a neighboring town there is a strong 
congregation of our brethren whose pastor is here to-night 
to bring us their greetings and his own. I have great 
pleasure in presenting to you Dr. Niles, of York. 

Remarks by Rev. Henry E. Niles, D. D. 

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : I am not here 
to-night for the purpose of speech making, but had I come 
for such object I think it would plainly be the part of 
wisdom, at this late hour, not to trespass upon your time 
and patience. Hindered from an earlier acceptance of the 
kind invitation of your committee, to partake of the pleasures 
of your various exercises on this anniversary week, I 
was glad to come even at the eleventh hour. I wanted to 
revisit scenes that have been familiar in the past, to reclasp 
old bonds of friendship, to form others that shall be new, 
and to drink in some of the intellectual and spiritual ozone 
which I felt sure must be flowing about abundantly here. 

I suppose I am called upon now, not so much for my own 



296 



Centennial Memorial. 



sake, as because I may represent a Sister Church in a neigh- 
boring city, which, according to its charter, bears a similar 
distinctive name ; which is, I believe, somewhat older than 
this ; and also, for a portion of the last century, was asso- 
ciated ecclesiastically with this. I take pleasure, therefore, 
in presenting to the members of the "English Presbyterian 
congregation of Harrisburg," the fraternal salutations of the 
"English Presbyterian congregation of York." Your senior 
by several years and a little more venerable, perhaps, but a 
Church, I am sure, which, cherishes the most kindly interest 
in your welfare and rejoices that you have come to this 
period of maturity, with so many evidences of spiritual 
vigor and general prosperity. 

If you want me to say more, it shall be in the line 
suggested by our dear brother, Dr. Cattell, for I too, am 
carried back to my first acquaintance with Harrisburg. It was 
in that time which tried men's souls, near the close of the 
war, when from an old dingy car that had seen hard service 
for the country, and was then filled with soldiers going 
towards the front, I first looked upon this goodly city. Of 
course, I had some general ideas of its character and 
importance, as the State Capital, but as from the window of 
that car standing a little while, on the other side of the 
Susquehanna, the view was presented, "beautiful for situa- 
tion" seemed your loved city, which might well be the joy 
of the whole commonwealth. While I could not but notice 
the substantial buildings that lined the streets, symbolic of 
the character of the population, and those on the Capitol 
Hill, well suited for the legislators and other officials of the 
State, my attention was soon turned to a tall, symmetrical, 



Remarks by Rev. Henry E. Niles. 



297 



beautiful spire which loomed up in the foreground, and 
which I learned was of the First Presbyterian Church. 

Not long after, as I well remember, came my introduction 
to the pastors of the Church, the venerable, scholarly and 
accomplished Dr. DeWitt; and his junior colleague, con- 
cerning whom, here in his presence, I forbear to use such 
adjectives as my heart prompts me to employ, and such 
as I am sure your high appreciation of him would endorse. 

The circumstances were peculiar. The events transpiring 
in our country were such as the world remembers with 
thrilling interest. 

On Friday evening, April 14, 1865, the Presbytery, with 
which our churches were connected, convened in semi- 
annual meeting at York, and in connection with the usual 
business of that session, it was expected that I would be 
installed pastor of the York congregation. It was the 
evening of that memorable day when the stars and stripes, 
which had been, for four years, lowered at Fort Sumpter, 
were restored to their former position, Henry Ward Beecher 
being the orator of the occasion. This fact, together with 
the recent capture of Petersburg and Bichmond, and the 
surrender of Lee and his army to General Grant, had filled 
the country with joy. Dr. Robinson preached the opening 
sermon of Presbytery, and on the next day it was expected 
that the regular business would be attended to, and on 
Sabbath, together with various popular meetings, would be 
the ceremony of installation. But on Saturday morning, 
how startling the intelligence that was flashed across the 
land, and filled every loyal heart with consternation I 
What a thrill of horror passed through our communities, 



'298 



Centennial Memorial. 



on that 15th day of April, when successive telegrams 
announced, " President Lincoln assassinated !" " Secretary 
Seward simultaneously assaulted !" " Secretary Stanton and 
Chief Justice Chase imperilled !" " The President dead !" 

When Presbytery convened that morning, no wonder that 
our expected delightful service was turned into a scene of 
anxiety and sorrow and shame ! And when the venerable 
Dr. DeWitt was called to lead us in prayer to the God of 
Providence, the Governor of the Universe, no wonder that 
we felt our help must be m Him alone. Next day. that 
church which otherwise had been decorated with symbols 
of joy and gladness, was hung with the black emblems of 
mourning. Although the appointed services were held, 
conflicting emotions were in our hearts. Under other 
circumstances, I might be tempted to say more in this con- 
nection. I have only alluded to that memorable time, as 
the beginning of my acquaintance with your pastors, in 
connection with the little " New School Presbytery of Harris- 
burg." Little" she may have been "among the thousands 
of Judah," but by no means " least " in the loyalty of her 
devotion to Evangelical principles, in the readiness of her 
members for Christian service, and in the variety and 
liberality of her contributions for objects of Christian 
beneficence. Her ministers and elders met together as 
brethren, innocent of rivalries, rejoicing in each other's com- 
panionship, and confident in each other's fraternal affection. 

But, when the reunion of our denomination in 1870 gave 
occasion for the readjustment of Presbyterial boundaries, 
the wedge of separation was driven between these churches, 
and some of us were brought into new ecclesiastical con- 



Remarks by Rev. Henry E. Niles. 



299 



nections. From that time, though geographically neigh- 
bors, the churches of Harrisburg and York have had but 
little intercourse. And so, at length, I am here to-night, 
amid familiar scenes, yet somewhat as a stranger. Here, 
where I once felt so much at home, and in view of this pul- 
pit where I often stood as a co-Presbyter, it almost seems 
that I need a fresh introduction ! 

Yet, I am not entirely ignorant of your history during 
these recent years. I have known something of your activ- 
ity and power, and continued enlargement. I have marked 
" your work of Faith and labor of Love and patience of 
Hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God, even 
our Father, knowing brethren beloved, your election of 
God." 

In conclusion, therefore, let me repeat to you, my dear 
Brother Stewart, and to your good people, the salutations 
of "The English Presbyterian Church of York," and assure 
you that, with thanksgiving to God for distinguished favors 
shown to you in the past, we will pray that, from the begin- 
ning of this new century on which you are entering, the 
Shechinah may be yet more constantly manifest among 
you, and the joy of the Lord be the delight of your souls! 

The President : I do not know how we can better con- 
clude the evening than by just one further word. It is 
probably out of the regular order from a chronological point 
of view, but sentimentally it seems appropriate to conclude 
this celebration with a few commendator}^ words from the 
Mother Church. I am glad to call upon one who bears a 
name so honored in this region as does Mr. W. Franklin 
Rutherford of the Paxtang Church. 



300 



Centennial Memorial. 



Remarks by Mr. W. Franklin Rutherford. 

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : Away back in 
those shadowy times, before the Quaker had crossed the 
Brandywine, or the famous cherrytree had been planted 
in the garden of Mr. Washington, a band of choice spirits 
from Ulster, composed of men, women and children 
had penetrated the wilds of Paxtang and appropriated 
to themselves the southern slopes of the beautiful hills, 
east of the spot upon which we now stand. And as a 
characteristic of the race wherever found, they brought with 
them the Church and the school-house, and with admirable 
taste, and a prescience not yet fully appreciated, located 
both in Paxtang Valley, and when history reached the 
place in 1732 as recorded in the minutes of Donegal 
Presbytery, she found there Old Paxtang Church. 

The building thus found was of logs, and was replaced 
in 1740 by a stone meeting house, which like Concord, 
Lexington and Bunker's Hill, still remains, and there we 
hope, it will remain until the Church Militant shall have 
been supplanted by the Church triumphant. Every one 
knows that the history of Paxtang Church, down to the close 
of the Revolution, is in large measure, the history of this 
portion of Pennsylvania, but its history throughout has 
been so lately and so ably recited on several different 
occasions, that I shall not now inflict upon you a thrice 
told tale. 

There is, however, one circumstance relating to the 
makeup of the congregation during the Revolutionary 
period, and for many years thereafter, which may be of 
interest to you as descendants, and which I think has never 



Remarks by Mr. W. Franklin Rutherford. 301 

been brought out. And when I bring it out do not 
demand documentary evidence. I rely upon the deeper 
and more solid foundation of tradition, and follow the 
injunction which the Apostle Paul endeavored with all the 
force of his matchless eloquence to impress upon the 
Thessalonians, " Stand fast, and hold the traditions which 
ye have been taught." The minister of Paxtang and all 
his office-bearers were men of high military rank. Mr. 
Elder was a colonel, and his bench of ruling elders ranked 
from Captain to Brigadier, and were a body of men who 
never thought of shirking duty under cover of the old 
excuse implied in the question, " am I my brother's 
keeper?" Their meetings savored strongly of the camp: 
discipline was complete and the word of the reverend com- 
manding officer was both law and gospel. 

Trials before this body partook of the brevity and direct- 
ness of a martial court, and the culprit was usually 
convicted. The laity was of like material, and ranked 
from Corporal to Major General, comprising magistrates 
and statesmen from constable to Senator of the United 
States, all patriotic to the backbone, and woe betide the 
unfortunate Tory or " Britisher," who dared to show his 
face within the portals of the old stone meeting house. 

There is also a little episode in our history, which I think 
you will pardon me if I mention, as it has a very important 
bearing upon the present happy occasion, and, but for 
which you would have had no Centennial to celebrate 
After having passed successfully through the struggles of 
early youth and the bitterness consequent upon numerous 
civil and religious controversies, we had just settled down 



302 



Centennial Memorial. 



to the enjoyment of that peace and comfort which follows a 
consciousness of work well done, when suddenly trouble 
arose in the family, our eldest daughter, (a wayward child), 
began to scheme for a slice of our territory, upon which to 
establish a Church of her own. This proceeding was looked 
upon by the stern old rulers of Paxtang as treason and rank in- 
gratitude -and they must not be censured on this account, for, 
be it remembered, they lived in the tallow candle age, when 
the delusion prevailed that parents were wiser than their 
children, nor are we sure that the discipline then admin- 
istered to our daughter, which restrained her impetuosity 
for at least a decade, was not a blessing in disguise, as it 
developed that fortitude and earnest endeavor to be worthy 
of the claim she then set up, which has characterised her 
career ever since, and has rendered her one of the brightest 
jewels in the crown of Old Paxtang's glory. 

I wish to say further, that although the Mother Church, 
for a long time after the separation, sulked in her tent, and 
said some severe things about the daughter, she never per- 
mitted any one else to do so in her hearing, and was all the 
while secretly rejoicing in the prosperity and religious 
growth of the new enterprise. Long years ago all animosity 
ceased and from the beginning of Dr. DeWitt's ministry 
down to the present hour, her ministers have frequently 
filled the pulpit of the Mother Church, and have been al- 
most as well known and as much beloved there as here. 

And now in these commemorative exercises, which it is 
eminently fitting you should observe, I would say to our 
daughter, The Mother Church is here to rejoice with you 
and to give voice to her pride in the noble record which 



Social Reception. 



3oa 



God has enabled you to make during the century just now 
folding itself away, and to bid you God-speed throughout 
all time to come. 

At the conclusion of Mr. Rutherford's speech, the com- 
pany in the auditorium returned to the social rooms, and 
resumed their participation in the social intercourse of the 
hour. 

The evening wore on, and yet such was the delightful- 
ness of the occasion that the company dispersed slowly, and 
it was not until after eleven o'clock that the last guests left 
the house, and Centennial Week came to a close. It was a 
fitting conclusion of a most delightful celebration. It could 
hardly be said to be anything less than a goodly fellowship 
of the saints. The whole celebration from Sunday morning 
to Friday night was one continuous, brilliant, gratifying 
success. Those who were most closely identified with it, 
and who lingered till the last in the sanctuary where it had 
been carried forward felt that as it began with the Doxology, 
it ought to close with the same. 

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow ; 
Praise Him, all creatures here below ; 
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host, 
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. 



CENTENNIAL GREETINGS. 



GOD'S SURE COVENANT * 

By Charles Nelson Hickok. 

Lines suggested by an invitation to the centennial celebration of 
the Market Square Presbyterian Church, Harrisburg, and by coinci- 
dental recollections of the writer's membership and associations 
therein, more than a half century ago. 

• 'Tis said that sires were wont to tell 
Their sons, in ancient Israel, 

The wonders God had wrought ; — 
How the oppressor's hosts were slain, 
While, scathless, through the riven main, 
The chosen tribes were brought : — 

How, by His own almighty arm — 
Through tumult, danger and alarm ; 

Their pilot, comfort, stay ; 
Their beacon through the baleful night ; 
Their shelter from the noonday blight — 

He led their devious way : — 

How manna fell — by Heaven bestowed ; — 
From smitten rock how waters flowed, 

T' refresh the weary band ; 
Till safe, with neither scrip nor gold : 
With sandals never waxing old, 

They reached the promised land. 

*The centennial celebration called out several poems from members 
and friends of the congregation. The Committee on Publication 
being unable for lack of space to publish all of these contributions, 
have selected the one written by the oldest person among the con- 
tributors, himself for several years and until his removal from the city, 
an honored member of the church. — Editor. 



Centennial Greetings. 



So, in these courts, God's people may 
Recount His wondrous deeds to-day, 

Midst grateful, joyful tears ; 
His myriad benefits recall, 
His guiding, prospering hand through all 

The century of years. 

A hundred times the tireless sun 
His annual chariot-race hath run 

Back to his starting place ; 
Yet every changing cycle past 
Beheld, unchangeful as the last, 

God's covenant of grace ! 

Successive generations bear 
Witness to His unfailing care, 

Whom our forefathers praised, 
When to the wilderness they came 
And, to the honor of His name, 

Their ebenezer raised. 

The little flock, whom Jesus led — 
By holy, faithful pastors fed — 

Has num'rous grown and strong : 
And it becomes their children well, 
The numbers of His love to tell 

In a perpetual song ; 

For precious is their heritage — 
The holy birthright to engage 

In ministries divine ; — 
Theirs lineage of nobler blood— 
The sons and daughters of our God— 

Than comes through royal line ! 

Bless'd flock ! Whom sweeter fruits regale 
Than clusters, plucked from Eschol's vale, 
The sons of Judah fed ! 



306 



Centennial Memorial. 



Bless'd Shepherd ! By whose gentle hand, 
Midst peaceful scenes of Christian land, 
Thy saints are comforted ! 

O Zion of Christ's plighted love, 
Thy strong foundations who can move, 

Or, hopefully, assail? 
Though all the ranks of darkness swell, 
Against thy Rock nor death, nor hell 

Hath power to prevail ! 

Dear House of Prayer ! How bless'd who wait 
To meet The Lord within thy gate, 

Seeking to know His will ; 
Learning, with Him, to bear the cross ; 
Finding — midst conflict, grief, or loss — 

In Him, their refuge still ! 

Walking with God, no foes dismay ! 
With strength apportioned to their day, 

Nought can their hope destroy ! 
Oft sorrows cloud their "vale of tears," 
As oft The Comforter appears 

T' o'erflow their cup with joy ! 

And when — life's days of trial o'er — 
Their feet draw near the darkling shore 

That borders death's cold sea, 
Their faith discerns a heavenly form, 
And hears the voice that still'd the storm, 

Of old, on Galilee. 

Whether in Kalmia's* peaceful shade, 
Or stranger-land their dust be laid, 
Or 'neath the ocean's wave, 

* The name by which Harrisburg Cemetery was popularly known 
forty years ago.— Editor. 



Centennial Greetings. 



307 



Christ's covenant that dust secures ; 
His resurrection-pledge assures 
Their rescue from the grave ! 

Then let glad chants and hymns arise, 
As fragrant incense, to the skies, 

With mighty organ's swell ! 
Join every voice in loud acclaim ! 
Shout to the heavens the matchless name 

Of our Immanuel ! 

Let youth and age, with one accord, 
Proclaim the glories of our Lord, 

Th' Eternal God-head bless ! 
The fathers trusted well His love, 
And children's children live to prove 

Jehovah's faithfulness ! 
Bedford, Penn'a, February, 1894. 

Resolutions Adopted by the Elder Street Church, 
Harrisburg. 

Resolutions adopted by the members of the Elder Street 
Presbyterian Church on the one hundredth anniversary of 
the Market Square Presbyterian Church : 

" Whereas, God in his all- wise providence has blessed and 
preserved in our midst the Market Square Presbyterian 
Church for the period of a full century, and in that century 
God through the Holy Spirit and His Word has wrought 
miraculous temporal, moral and spiritual good to the com- 
munity through the instrumentality of the church ; there- 
fore, be it 

" Resolved, That we, the members of the Elder Street 
Presbyterian Church, realizing that through the good men 



308 



Centennial Memorial 



and women, who have been God's products and outgrowth 
of the Market Square Presbyterian Church, are grateful for 
our existence as a Church in this community and most heart- 
ily join with the Christian people of our city in extending 
congratulations to this Church which has labored so suc- 
cessfully in God's vineyard for the past hundred years, 
lifting up the fallen, building up and sustaining the weak, 
and advancing the principles of the Fatherhood of God and 
the brotherhood of man. We unite in prayer to God for 
continued prosperity and such an out-pouring of the Holy 
Spirit upon the congregation of the Market Square Church 
as they have never yet experienced ; and we further pray 
that Presbyterianism as taught by the Market Square 
Church through the gospel of our blessed Lord and Saviour, 
may in this community do a greater work for humanity 
and Christ in the century to come than Presbyterianism has 
accomplished in the century just passed. 

B. F. Stewart, 
Mrs. Eliza Zedricks, 
James H. W. Howard, 
Turner Cooper, Jr., 
Miss Annie Higgins, 

Committee" 

Letter from Hon. A. Louden Snowden, Grandson of 
Rev. Nathaniel R. Snowden. 
No. 1812 Spruce Street, February 13th, 1894.. 
Dear Mr. Stewart : 

I deeply regret that an unexpected call to New York on 
important business will deny me the pleasure of participat- 



Centennial Greetings. 



309 



ing in the interesting ceremonies of your Church, of which 
my revered grandfather was the first pastor. 

It was fully my intention to be with you, and to this end 
had accepted the polite invitation of my cousin, Mr. Henry 
McCormick, to be his guest. I can assure you that nothing 
but very important interests could prevent my being with 
you. I shall fully explain this in a letter to Mr. McCor- 
mick. I beg to assure you of my high appreciation of your 
considerate kindness in asking me to be with you, and of 
the sincere regret I have in not being able to meet your 
wishes. I am, 

Respectfully yours, 

A. Louden Snowden. 

Rev. George B. Stewart. 

Letter from Judge Joseph Allison, a Former Member. 
No. 4207 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, 

February 13th, 1894. 

Lyman D. Gilbert, Esq. : 

Dear Sir : Yours of the 12th inst. has just been received 
at this 8 : 30 p. m. 

Thanks for your invitation to be present during some 
portion of this week with the English Presbyterian congre- 
gation of Harrisburg during the Centennial Celebration of 
the founding of the Church. 

It would give me no little pleasure to accept this invitation, 
if it was possible for me to be in Harrisburg during any 
portion of the week set apart for the services in commemo- 
ration of this interesting occasion ; but I have been quite 
unwell for some time, and am now unable to make the 



310 



Centennial Memorial. 



journey to my native city, or to take part in the exercises in 
which I would be glad to share with the present congrega- 
tion. 

With respect, therefore, I must deny myself the pleasure 
of an acceptance. 

Very truly yours, 

Joseph Allison. 

Letter from Mr. D. C. Buchanan, Son of Rev. James 

Buchanan. 

Barracks No. 21, Soldier's Home, near Dayton, 0, 

February 10, 1894.. 

Rev. George B. Stewart : 

Dear Sir : My sister, Mattie B. Buchanan, of Logansport, 
sent me a letter written by you, inquiring if she knew of 
any likeness or picture of our dear father, the Rev. James 
Buchanan. I do not think there is one. Artists of any 
kind in the wilds of Indiana were very scarce in his day. 
The only likeness ever taken of him that I know anything 
about was from memory. An artist by the name of Geo. 
W. Winters settled in Logansport a short time before 
father's death. He said to me one day, " I hear you have 
no likeness of your father, a great pity. If you would desire 
one I can paint one from memor}^ nearly as good, as if he 
were present. I thought your father one of the best repre- 
sentatives of the old divines we read about. I have often 
talked with Judges Stewart and Biddle here about it." 
"How much do you want for painting it?" " Forty dol- 
lars." " All right, with this understanding, if mother don't 
like the picture I am not to pay for it." " All right," he 



Centennial Greetings. 



311 



said. After it was finished I took a great admirer of my 
father to see it, by the name of Gen. Grover. He said, 
" Winters, I have a much better likeness of Mr. Buchanan 
over in my house than yours." ''Whose is it?" "Gen. 
William Henry Harrison, whom we elected President with 
the help of coon-skins and hard cider. I have heard that 
a great many times. I always thought Mr. Buchanan w T as 
a finer looking man than Harrison." Mr. Grover said to 
me, " Your mother won't take that picture. When you take 
it out for her to see, I want you to take the Harrison picture 
along and show her the Winter's picture first. I know she 
will condemn it." As soon as she saw it she said, " My son, 
that don't look like your father. It is more like an Italian 
brigand. Tell Mr. Winters I don't want it." I then said, 
" Hold on, mother ; look at this one." Upon seeing it 
she very quickly exclaimed : " I will take this one." Then 
I explained matters to her, " Well, that is too bad. I am 
not to have a likeness of your father after all," said she. 
Gen. Grover was flattered a good deal when he heard 
mother's report. I told him, " I can give you further proof 
about your judgment. In the year 1836, when Gen. 
Harrison made his political tour on horseback from the 
Potomac through the Cumberland Valley to Harrisburg 
(over the same route which Gen. Lee took in 1863, and met 
his defeat at Gettysburg), some of my father's old Whig 
friends requested him to ride at the head of the procession 
with Harrison. Father, reflecting over the matter, told his 
friends he did not think it would look very well for a min- 
ister of the gospel to be marching at the head of a political 
procession, so declined going. The young ladies went along 



312 



Centennial Memorial. 



the line of march to wave their flags and handkerchiefs to 
salute the old hero of Tippecanoe. Three young ladies went 
upstairs in Thomas G. McCullough's house as the proces- 
sion came in sight. One cried out, ' Wait till Harrison 
comes up, that first one is the Rev. James Buchanan, of 
Greencastle.' So the old hero went by without their salute. 
I got that from authority." That I thought was good. 
Father graduated at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa. I 
don't know the year. After he got what the Hoosiers called 
his " sheep-skin " to preach, the Harrisburg church gave 
him a call. When there he became acquainted with a 
great belle and beauty, and the greatest dancer in all that 
part of the country. People would say, " Can it be possible 
that he would marry that flirt and coquette, Miss Hattie 
Berryhill." Dr. Als. Berryhill, her brother, would say, 
" Well Hatt, are you going to marry the preacher ?" 
" Don't you think I had better wait until he asks me ?" 
Miss Hattie was becoming seriously inclined now. " Hatt, 
do you think you like him?" " Why not? He is certainly 
the best looking and most intelligent gentleman in Harris- 
burg." " Oh, cracky, cracky, my young lady, you are froze 
at last, goodbye, farewell." Many times have I heard her 
say, " It was the most glorious day for me when I became 
acquainted with your father, for he snatched me from the 
brink of ruin and despair. Oh, what a wild, thoughtless, 
giddy girl I was." If there ever was a true genuine Chris- 
tian she was one. If my father would happen to be absent 
over night she would lead in family worship, and she would 
do it well, for her whole soul was in it. 

I will tell you of one case of the good she did. Miss 



Centennial Greetings. 



313 



Mary Shoemaker was at my mother's funeral. She came 
to me, the tears rolling down her cheeks, and said, " Oh, 
Mr. Buchanan, to that sainted mother of yours I owe all 
the glorious hopes I have. You know how I was raised 
almost an infidel. Thrice blessed may her memory be. 
Farewell, farewell, may her sweet prayers be answered on 
your behalf, for I may never see you again." This turned 
out to be the case. She is gone to her long home. It 
seems to me like a dream. 

I have gotten too old to write much. I am seventy-two. 
About ten years older than my father at his death, and 
about ten years younger than my mother at her death. 

Now if there is anything in this scrawl that you can use 
for the Centennial, it will pay for all my trouble. One 
thing is certain, it is all true as far as I know and believe. 

My father's death was very sudden and unexpected. He 
went to church in his usual health. When about half 
through his sermon he told his congregation he was too 
unwell to finish it. He was taken with a congestive chill, 
gave out a hymn, went down the aisle, home, was taken to 
the church the next Sabbath a corpse, — one of the most 
sorrowful days I have ever seen, for I loved him with my 
whole soul and body. I was his favorite child out of nine. 
No one ever knew it until after his death, when mother told 
us. But I was about the last picked on. I was wild and 
full of vinegar. I am about worn out writing. 
Yours respectfully, 

D. C. Buchanan. 
P. S. — I am the oldest son now living. Alexander, Wil- 
son and I are the only boys living, and two girls, Martha 



314 



Centennial Memorial. 



in Logansport, and Maria, Mrs. Dr. Early, at Palmyra, Mis- 
souri. If I were as well off as 1 was ten or twelve years 
ago, I would come to your Centennial, but I am too poor to 
think of it. 

Letter from Rev. Joseph R. Vance, D. D., Formerly 
Pastor First Presbyterian Church, Carlisle, Pa. 

Chester, Pa., Feb. 6th, 1894.. 

My Dear Dr. Stewart : 

Your kind invitation to the exercises of the 100th anni- 
versary of the Market Square Church has just been received. 

Thou hast been brought to the kingdom at a blessed 
time in the history of the grand old church. 

In the days when Paxtang, Derry and Silvers' Spring 
were the chosen shrines, it was difficult for Harrisburg to 
gain recognition. For thirty years and up to the dawn of 
re-union, good Dr. DeWitt carried the flag of a small New 
School minority in Central Pennsylvania. One half of the 
faithful ministry of Dr. Robinson w T as spent in the little 
Presbytery of Harrisburg, but there is no " pent up Utica " 
for you and Market Square now. The good old Presbytery 
of Carlisle, the Synod of Pennsylvania, and the Woman's 
Boards are ready to second every motion you make. 

When in A. D. 1894, we see the junior Dr. DeWitt and 
Dr. Robinson the exponents of the theological thought of 
Princeton and Allegheny, we conclude that it could not 
have been a very dangerous type of new schoolism after all, 
and seeing you in the van of Christian Endeavor columns, 
we say " He well represents the aggressive spirit charac- 
teristic of that Church. Like James Weir, he will never 



Centennial Greetings. 



315 



grow old." May the true consecration and determined 
aggressiveness of the past always charaterize the history of 
the church. Very fraternally yours, 

Jos. R. Vance. 

Letter from Mrs. Mary M. McArthur, Daughter of 

THE LATE WlLLIAM McCLEAN A FORMER ELDER. 

No. 636 N. Main Street, 
Meadville, Pa., February 8th, 189 i.. 

My Dear Mrs. Doll : Please accept my thanks for your 
kind favor received. How much I wish I could be present 
and join in the very interesting services of the coming week. 
It was in that branch of the church (of sacred memory) 
with two elder brothers, I first made a public profession of 
my faith in Christ. Many pleasant and tender memories 
come crowding upon me as I recall the days of my youth 
in Harrisburg, of Christ's people, other friends and ac- 
quaintances, of the Sabbath-school, of my sainted parents, 
of respect shown my father, the confidence in him, and 
honor conferred in making him an Elder in the Church of 
God. I remember well several of the ladies and gentlemen 
whose names are on the committee. 

I shall be with you in spirit as the programme is being 
carried out, praying that God's blessing may accompany 
each meeting, that his people there and elsewhere in Har- 
risburg may especially feel the influences of the Holy Spirit, 
and be greatly refreshed and strengthened, and many who 
are still out of Christ be brought to love and serve him. 
With love, Your friend, 

Mary M. McArthur. 



316 



Centennial Memorial. 



Letter from Rev. Samuel G. Niccolls, D. D., formerly 
Pastor of Falling Spring Church, Chambersburg. 

St. Louis, February 7th, 1894. 
My Dear Brother : I have received your invitation to 
attend the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Market 
Square Church. I greatly regret that it will not be possible 
for me to be present. The invitation revives so many 
pleasant memories of Harrisburg, and of my associations 
with the old Presbytery of Carlisle, that I would like very 
much to be with you on this memorable occasion. Your 
old church has a grand history and has been a mighty 
power for good in the Cumberland Valley. I know that it 
has a life within it which prevents if from becoming old. 
A living church always renews itself and laughs at Time. 
With best wishes, I am 

Fraternally yours, 

Samuel G. Niccolls. 

Letter from Rev. Robert F. McClean, Grandson of a 
Former Elder and Himself for Many Years a Mem- 
ber of the Presbytery of Carlisle. 

Muncy, February 7th, 1894.. 
Rev. George B. Stewart, D. D., Harrisburg, Pa. 

Dear Brother : We are grateful for the invitation to the 
Centennial of your church, though we will be unable to be 
present. I well remember when a boy on a visit to Harris- 
burg, of seeing Dr. DeWitt, and the then black-haired Dr. 
Robinson, together in the pulpit of the old church, and of 
being in Mr. James McCormick's Sunday-school class of 
boys. The grand work and the goodly fellowship of the 



Centennial Greetings. 



317 



Market Square Church deserve commemoration. The fact 
of my grandfather being an elder, and Dr. Robinson and 
yourself such esteemed friends of my own give me deep 
personal interest in it. 

Cordially yours, 

Robert F. McClean. 

Many other letters of congratulation were received, but 
space is lacking for their publication. Among them were 
letters from 

Colonel John J. McCook, New York City. 

Rev. William H. Roberts, D. D., LL. D., Stated Clerk of 
General Assembly. 

Rev. William S. Van Cleve, Gettysburg. 

William M. Capp, M. D., son of a former Elder, Phila- 
delphia. 

Rev. S. S. Wylie, Middle Spring. 

Mr. Abram B. Knapp, Elizabeth, N. J, 

Mr. William J. Nevius, Jr., South Orange, N. J. 

J. Bayard Henry, Esq., Philadelphia. 

Mrs. Sibyl Fahnestock Hubbard, New York. 

Mrs. Mary Fahnestock Reid, Allegheny. 

Rev. Ezra A. Huntington, D. D., LL. D., Professor in 
Theological Seminary, Auburn. 

Rev. W. T. L. KiefFer, Washington, Pa. 

Miss Martha Buchanan, daughter of Rev. Jas. Buchanan, 
second pastor of the church, Logansport, Ind. 

John Curwen, M. D., Superintendent of State Insane 
Hospital, Warren, Pa. 

Ovid F. Johnson, Esq., and sisters, Philadelphia. 



318 



Centennial Memorial. 



Rev. Martin L. Ganoe, pastor Ridge Avenue M. E. Church 
Harrisburg. 

Geo. W. Mehaffie, General Secretary West Philadelphia 
Branch Y. M. C. A., Philadelphia. 

Rev. Everard Kempshall, D. D., pastor First Presbyterian 
Church, Elizabeth, N. J. 

Rev. J. Smith Gordon, Fannettsburg. 

Geo. B. Ayres, Esq., Philadelphia. 

Rev. Henry C. McCook, D. D., Pastor Tabernacle Presby- 
terian Church, Philadelphia. 

Rev. William P. White, Financial Secretary for Lincoln 
University, Germantown, Pa. 

Judge Henry H. Swan, of U. S. District Court, Detroit, 
Michigan. 

Rev. Arthur S. Hoyt, D. D., Professor in Theological Sem- 
inary, Auburn, N. Y. 

Rev. Timothy G. Darling, D. D., Professor in Theological 
Seminary, Auburn, N. Y. 

Rev. John C. Barr, Dillsburg, Pa. 

Mr. H. C. Doll, Denver, Col. 

Gen. James A. Beaver, Bellefonte, Pa. 

Rev. Edward D. Morris, D. D. LL. D., Professor in Lane 
Theological Seminary, Cincinnati. 

Rev. J. R. Miller, D. D., Secretary of the Presbyterian 
Board of Publication, Philadelphia. 

Hon. Samuel Gustine Thompson, Philadelphia. 

President Patton, Princeton College, Princeton, N. J. 

Rev. Willis J. Beecher, D. D., Professor in Theological 
Seminary, Auburn, N. Y. 



OUR SECOND CENTURY. 



It seemed fitting to the Committee on Publication that 
this volume should contain the first sermons of the new cen- 
tury, delivered in the church on Sunday, April 18th, 1894. It 
therefore requested them from Dr. Robinson and Dr. Stewart 
for such publication. By request of the minister, Rev. Dr. 
Robinson assisted him in the morning service and preached. 
He chose for his theme, " Characteristics of a True Pastor 
and a True Church." In the evening the minister preach- 
ed upon the theme, " The Duty of Our Second Century." 
The usual order of service was observed on both occasions, 
and large audiences were present. Thus happily was the 
new century begun, with a deep sense of gratitude for the 
blessings received and an abiding consciousness of the ever- 
present duties of discipleship. 



CHARACTERISTICS OF A TRUE PASTOR AND A 
TRUE CHURCH. 



By Rev. Thomas H. Robinson, D. D. 



Before I enter upon the subject of the morning I wish to 
say a word about the week that has just closed. It is a 
word of congratulation. The week has been a happy and 
most successful one. I rejoice in your unity and christian 
love. I rejoice in your brotherhood with all the Churches 
about you. I rejoice in the outlook for the coming years. 
I have been looking with gladness on the young faces that 
are to stand in your lot in the years to come. Perhaps 
some may feel that a great deal has been said about the 
Scotch-Irish and Presbyterianism ; too much it may be. 
Let us now submerge them. They are worth nothing save 
as they are Christian. Apart from Christ they are but 
worthless dust. The best and deepest thing in us is not 
ancestral blood, nor Presbyterian orthodoxy, but christian 
faith and life. In the vocabulary of Heaven, the words 
Scotch-Irish and Presbyterianism will not be found. There 
are no Scotch-Irish nor Presbyterians — as such in the 
glorious City of the Skies. Nationalities and denominations 
find no home there. Let us count it to be our chiefest 
glory now, as it will be then, to be simply the followers of 
Christ and the Children of God. 



Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 321 



Philippians iv. 1-7. 

Wherefore, my brethren, beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, 
so stand fast in the Lord, my beloved. 

I exhort Euodia, and I exhort Syntyche to be of the same mind in 
the Lord. Yea, I beseech thee also, true yokefellow, help these 
women, for they labor with me in the Gospel, with Clement also and 
the rest of my fellow-workers, whose names are in the book of life. 
Rejoice in the Lord alway : again I will say, Rejoice. Let your for- 
bearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. In nothing 
be anxious ; but in everything by prayer and supplication with 
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the 
peace of God which passeth all understanding shall guard your hearts 
and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. 

It was a very human and natural thing that as Paul 
drew near to the close of his letter to the Church at 
Philippi, he should indulge in some direct personal refer- 
ences. We do the same thing in our letters of to-day. We 
send messages to one and another of the absent friends. 
We recall by name the members of the household. 

The main burden of the Apostle's thought in the Epistle 
is uttered and he is drawing to the end. The Good Bye is 
about to be written. The faces of the absent ones come 
before him, and it is very natural that before he lays down 
the pen he should add some closing admonitions, exhorta- 
tions and messages. They are brief and pithy. The weight 
of thought and feeling that was upon him in the main 
body of the letter is cast off, and he comes out more the 
man than the great Apostle. We get at his heart and find 
how human he is. 

These closing sentences may seem to be fragmentary and 
unconnected, and the Apostle may seem to be writing now 
just what occurs to him. He is not deeply thinking. Yet 



322 



Centennial Memorial. 



I think we shall find his words are not quite fragmentary. 
They are not written at random. A definite line of thought 
underlies what he now says. The earlier part of the letter 
shapes the close of it. 

It is so with ourselves. Letters of business, letters of 
friendship, letters of consolation and letters of family love, 
all have their own and their appropriate ending. 

Paul was writing to one of the churches that he had 
founded and to which he clung with tenacious affection. 
He had been pouring out his soul on the subject of the true 
Christian life. He had revealed the deep sources from 
which it springs, the great channels in which it runs, and 
the conditions which surround it in this world, with its 
glorious attainments in the world to come. 

But still he remembers we are here, not there. We 
are amid the petty details of human life on earth. Earthly 
things still have their strong hold upon us. These Christians 
at Philippi were human and weak. They were amid temp- 
tations. They were at the mercy of a great multitude of 
trivial and daily things that must be attended to. How 
could they keep the grand music of the Gospel, the sublime, 
uplifting anthems of the life eternal sounding in their souls 
amid the patter and stir and noise of a busy life amid earthly 
things ! 

Paul comes down to the case. In doing so he reveals to 
us some characteristics of a true pastor, and also some char- 
acteristics of a true church. Allow me to draw your minds 
along these two lines of thought. 

I. The True Pastor. 

The apostle brings out, unconsciously, one element in the 



Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 323 

character of every true pastor. Unconsciously, I say. for he 
was not displaying and eulogizing himself. 

He simply tells, in his own experience, how the members 
of a church should be esteemed by a true pastor. They 
should have the deepest, tenderest love, and the strongest 
and heartiest good wishes of the pastor. Listen to the 
words of Paul, this man whom many only think of as a 
great theologian and the massive thinker of the church, 
and so absorbed in the grandeur of his thoughts as to be 
above the ordinary affections of men. Paul's heart was as 
great as his intellect. Note how he addresses these Christians 
of Philippi: 

" Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, 
my joy and my crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly 
beloved." What an accumulation of strong epithets of af- 
fection are here. " Longed for." It was the yearning of a 
great, strong man. " My joy." The source of his joy was 
not in his apostleship, in his miraculous powers, in his 
grand acquirements, in his enlarging fame through all the 
churches. It was in those who had been converted to 
God under his ministry; in the beauty of their life and 
their loyalty to Jesus Christ. Our joy is in our homes and 
in our friends. The chief happiness of a true pastor is in 
the pure and Christlike lives of the people to whom he 
ministers. 

" My Crown " adds the Apostle. He means that he prided 
himself in them. He gloried in them. It is not in these 
passages alone that St. Paul reveals his feelings for the 
people among whom he labored. It may be traced in all 
his letters. Elsewhere he writes. " My little children, for 



324 



Centennial Memorial. 



whom I travail in birth till Christ be formed in your hearts." 
And again — I ceased not to warn every one of you day and 
night with tears — " we were gentle among you even as a 
nurse cherisheth her children." "We were willing to have 
imparted unto you not the Gospel of God only, but also our 
own soul because you were very dear unto us." We think 
of Paul usually, as the stern reprover, the dauntless hero, 
the uncompromising champion of truth, the incomparable 
theologian, but there were in his soul great fountains of 
love and tenderness. Men who knew him loved him. They 
fell on his neck and kissed him. In his gentleness lay 
much of his power. 

There are preachers who pride themselves on being "faith- 
ful", in preaching the whole truth, in telling the people 
their sins. They are decided, they are heroic, they are 
scathing in denunciations of evil, they bear their testimony 
whether men will hear or forbear against popular evils. 
But there is a hardness in their tones, and a harshness in 
their manner, a self sufficiency and lack of sympathy that 
make their ministry offensive. 

The mainspring of the Gospel is the spirit of love. The 
mission of the preacher is a delicate one. While he is to 
preach the truth, and all the truth, he is ever to speak it in 
love, never in haste, never in scorn, never in indifference. He 
is to be filled with enthusiasm of humanity, a deep, true, 
broad love of man as man. Like his great Master he is to 
be a philanthropist — a lover of his kind. Narrowness, bigotry, 
prejudice, sectarianism should never find a home in his 
soul. Love should look through his candid, earnest, 
solemn eye. It should gleam in every line of his counten- 



Sermon of Rev. TJiomas H. Robinson. 



325 



ance. It should be heard in the intonations of his voice. 
His speech is always to be evangelical. He is the bringer 
of glad tidings. He proclaims the love of God to men. He 
speaks of boundless mercy. He tells of the love of the In- 
carnate God, of a love that was stronger than humiliation 
and pain. Stronger than shame and death — a love divine 
that bled for rebellious man. A love that knows no depth 
of sin that it cannot reach, no path of woe that it cannot 
travel, no foulness of the creature that it would not heal 
with tender touch. He tells of a love that opens a world of 
endless glory and happiness to the undeserving and guilty. 

The man who preaches such a gospel, must have the 
spirit of love in every fibre of his being. Harshness, im- 
patience, hoarse thunderings, are foreign to the true 
preacher. See what he has to do. He has to unveil to 
hard hearted men the tender fatherhood of God. He has 
to make them see the longing brotherhood of a Divine 
Saviour. He has to come to men in all their moods, their 
sins, their wants, as the representative of Him who tasted 
death for every man. He has to hear the heart's secrets of 
men in distress over their sins. He has to be present in 
human homes in the sacred hour of sorrow and speak in 
Christ's name. He has to be God's messenger of comfort to 
the desolate and broken-hearted, to stand by the bedside of 
dying saints and dying sinners, and tell each one of the 
Lamb of God who taketh away the sins of the world. He 
has to go where other men would be counted as intruders, 
into the deep and secret places of human woe, where mothers 
are clinging to their dead children — where grief is too deep 



326 



Centennial Memorial. 



for tears, and there bring the consolations of our divine 
faith. 

How vain for any one to fill such an office whose heart is 
not delicate and sensitive under the refining power of real 
love. It is not sentimental weakness for which I plead. 
Paul was no sentimental weakling. He was a great, strong^ 
brave, intellectual man — a very giant of a man. He knew 
what it was to argue with the wits and wise men of the 
world ; what it was to stand before kings ; what it was to be 
scourged and beaten with rods and to die daity. He was a 
man, a great, strong man everywhere. But the heart 
within him was a great, strong, broad heart, and it throbbed 
and beat as did the heart of the Master for men, for men 
everywhere. His words of endearment are not words of 
weakness but of strength. He looked upon men every- 
where as given to him that he might win them for Christ, 
or keep them for Christ. His joys and his sorrows were 
connected with them. He was glad over them, or he grieved 
over them. He was never cold, never austere, never harsh. 
He was a true preacher. 

II. The apostle also gives us some of the characteristics of 
a True Church. 

If the pastor, like the Chief Pastor, the great and good 
Shepherd of the Flock, must have a loving nature, surely 
the disciples, the members of the church, must possess a 
lovable character. If he is among a people who are morally 
unlovable and unattractive, how can he be expected to pour 
out his affections upon them? The true church will be re- 
sponsive. It will return love for love. It will display the 
winning graces and qualities of Christly character. 



Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 



327 



These qualities of character in the members of a true 
Church are brought out by the Apostle in three aspects : 

1. What the members of a true Church are to each other. 

2. What they are in themselves. 

3. What they are towards God. 

I. What the members of a genuine Church are to each 
other. 

They are bound in spiritual unity. "I entreat Euodia and 
I entreat Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord." 
Two of the christian women of the Church at Philippi, 
women who, Paul says, had labored with him and with each 
other in the Lord, were unhappily at variance. We know 
nothing about the cause of the trouble. Paul gives no hints. 
He takes neither side in the alienation. One thing fills his 
mind. They must be reconciled. It may seem too little a 
thing to claim the attention and grieve the heart of the great 
Apostle. It may have been a thing of the commonest kind. 
It serves Paul as an illustration of how liable believing 
and loving lives are to be swayed and marred, and so to 
mar the beauty and weaken the power of a Church. The 
Church lives and speaks in all its members. It is one 
body. It must be sound and whole and harmonious in all 
its parts. There must be no schism in the body. Little 
grievances grow into great magnitude. In feeling, in 
friendship, in action, the genuine Church must be one. All 
hearts must beat in unison. There must be no discords in 
the music of the Church. All outward life, all intercourse 
with each other, our common labors, must all keep touch 
with the spring and source of our spiritual life. We must 
keep together in our Common Lord. In his glowing presence 



328 



Centennial Memorial. 



of tenderness and love all alienations must disappear. 
Unity — unity of affection, of sentiment, of aim, is the law for 
the genuine Church. In Him, in the glorified Christ, whose 
earthly struggles and sufferings were met for each, the 
members of the Church should be now and forever united. 

The members of the genuine church are mutually helpful. 

" I entreat thee, also, true yoke-fellow, help these women 
who labored with me in the Gospel, with Clement, also, and 
the rest of my fellow- workers." 

Who this true yoke-fellow was no one knows. It does 
not matter. Who these other " fellow-workers " were, no 
one knows. It matters not. In a genuine church all are 
fellow-workers, all are true "yoke-fellows." The church is 
a loving workshop. All bear the yoke of service. One is 
the Master, even Christ. The law of mutual co-operation 
prevails. ''Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill 
the law of Christ." 

For every one who has begun to follow Christ there is no 
other place but the Church of Christ. He belongs there as 
much as a soldier to an army; just as much as a child be- 
longs in his father's house. He is out of his place if he is 
outside the church. He has no right to be outside. 

And when he takes his place in the church he has no 
right to be an idler, to sit down and take his ease. " Lord 
what wilt Thou have me to do?" is the primal question of 
every genuine Christian ; consecration to service, putting on 
the yoke, is a universal law. Then comes working in har- 
mony. Yoke-fellows we are. It is a grand, good word. It 
tells of helpfulness. We pull together in rolling the car of 
salvation. We have entered into a holy alliance. God 



Sermon of Rev. TJiomas H. Robinson. 329 

in his almighty love, bids us love, and help, and serve and 
bless each other. The old fable of the blind man and the 
cripple is realized every day in the true church. The blind 
man carries the cripple on his shoulders, and the cripple 
becomes eyes to the blind man. 

"Heaven forming each on other to depend, 
A master, or a servant, or a friend, 
Bids each on other for assistance call, 
Till one man's weakness grows the 8trength of all." 

The members of the genuine church are mutually consid- 
erate. To these fellow-workers at Philippi Paul writes, 
" Let your moderation be known unto all men. The word 
meant forbearance — consideration — the state of mind that 
does not overrate our own worth and our own plans, nor 
insist on having our own will. Let every man look on the 
things of others, Paul elsewhere says. The true church is 
filled with magnanimous Christians — large-hearted, broad- 
minded men and women. They are patient toward weak- 
ness, charitable towards the erring, gentle and forbearing 
towards the sinful. The natural selfishness and impetuosity 
of the human heart has been subdued by the unseen pres- 
ence and influence of Christ. A great vision of faith keeps 
the serene and loving Master near — a vision that calms the 
human passion and brings the soul into a happy order. It 
can now "believe all things, endure all things, hope all 
things." Christ seen, felt, rejoiced in as personal friend 
and Saviour, will make the members of the church for- 
bearing, considerate, gentle to all men. A true, large- 
hearted Christian is unselfish. He does not stand on his 



330 



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strict rights. He is not punctilious over trifles. He imitates 
the large generousness of Jesus Christ. 

II. The Apostle tells us what the members of a true 
Church are in themselves. He mentions two characteristics. 

1. The first is that of Loyalty to Christ. "They stand 
fast in the Lord." We cannot stand fast against the forces 
of this world's evil, we cannot stand fast in our spiritual en- 
counters with flesh and blood, with the principalities and 
powers of darkness, we cannot stand fast in charity and 
helpfulness toward all our christian brethren, we cannot 
stand fast in large-hearted love for all our fellow-men — in 
ourselves and by our own strength. 

We must find our inspiration in Jesus Christ. Our firm- 
ness must come from being rooted in Him. We must have 
unshaken convictions about Him. We must have an 
everlastingly settled love towards Him — "rooted and ground- 
ed" "steadfast and immovable" in our faith and love towards 
Him. It gives our weakness heroic strength when we keep 
our hold on Christ. It kindles our cold hearts with the 
fires of a divine enthusiasm when we keep close in touch 
with Jesus Christ. It will sustain our courage, our forti- 
tude, our constancy amid all perils and disappointments, 
amid every whirlwind of doubts and fears, if we keep up 
our fellowship with Christ. He is the vine, we are the 
branches. Apart from Him we can do nothing. United to 
Him we can join Paul in his word of triumph "I can do all 
things through Christ that strengtheneth me." Inspired 
with the life of Christ, living day by day in the light of 
Christ, happy in the love of Christ, glad to bear the easy 
yoke of Christ, we shall be able to stand. The fires of his 



Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 331 



love for mankind will burn in all our hearts. We shall 
look out on men with his generous pity and brotherly 
affection. The miseries and sins of the confederated millions 
of the human race will not appal us ; the troubles that assail 
the Church will not terrify us, for being one with Him, we 
are greater than we thought ourselves to be. His victory is 
ours. 

2. One thing more, for I must leave a large part of my 
subject untouched. 

A true Church will be full of religious joy. 

This letter to the Philippians is like an anthem that has 
running through it from beginning to end a melody — a 
strain of music. Again and again you catch the notes of 
the sweet strain until as you listen, you wait for its recurrence 
and find that the whole anthem is built upon it. The un- 
dertone of this letter to the Philippians is Christian Glad- 
ness. 

At the opening of the third chapter Paul had said: 
•''Finally, my brethren rejoice in the Lord." Rejoice, be of 
good cheer, was the usual farewell salute of the early 
christians. It was the last, best word. It was the summing 
of the religious life. It best expressed the fulness of its 
meaning — Rejoice, it is the keynote of our faith. It is a 
strain, the undertone of our christian anthem. And so 
here, as Paul draws nearer to the end of his letter he re- 
sumes the melody : "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again 
I will say it. Rejoice." 

Be happy in your religion, be happy in your great Sa- 
viour and Friend, is a divine command. Happiness is an 
essential element in genuine religion. Happiness is not 



332 



Centennial Memorial. 



only a privilege of the disciples of Christ, but a duty. It 
would seem as if it was as wrong for a Christian to be un- 
happy as to break any of the ten commandments. The 
command to rejoice is founded on the same authority as 
"Thou shalt not steal." It is repeated a hundred times 
more frequently. 

Is joy possible ? Is perpetual joy possible? Rejoice, re- 
joice in the Lord always; again I will sa}^, rejoice! Old 
Testament believers were frequently exhorted to rejoice in 
the Lord Jehovah. New Testament believers are bidden to 
rejoice in the Lord — the Lord Jesus — God incarnate, God 
revealed. It is the necessary inference from their knowl- 
edge of Him, their belief in his being, character and work 
that they should rejoice in Him. If this Lord Jesus be 
what Christians believe Him to be, then there is a thousand- 
fold more in Him to make them glad than there is in all 
the rest of the universe to make them sad. Christians ought 
to be always the happiest beings on the face of the earth. 
Despite their trials and troubles, despite their very sins, 
they ought to be. Joy is the logical outcome of true religion. 
The church should be the home of irresistible happiness. 

But note it well, Christian joy is not joy in any form of 
mere earthly good, the things that make up the world's 
happiness ; nor is it joy in our own sure hopes of heaven as 
forgiven and saved men — it is joy in a person — in the Lord 
Jesus. 

This means two things. It means first, that we have 
learned to believe. We are the children of a fixed and 
positive faith. The greatest, the central object of our faith 
is Jesus Christ. We have a vivid sense of the reality of 



Sermon of Rev. Thomas H. Robinson. 333- 

Christ. We are in no region of mist and doubt, but one 
rather of certainty. It means that our minds work in refer- 
ence to Christ, just as they do in reference to the things and 
persons about us, which are felt and known to be real persons 
and things. We do not doubt their reality; we see them; 
our hands touch them ; we hear them, converse with them, 
deal with them in a real, substantial way. So stands Christ to 
us. He is real; He is living; He is our living brother. It 
matters not that to the dull eye of sense He is invisible. 
Faith sees him. Faith has full, free play in our souls as it 
turns to Him. It sees Him to be divine; it sees Him to be 
the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world; it 
sees Him to be the invisible Ruler watching over and guid- 
ing all our affairs; it sees Him to be the great Advocate, 
who in heaven pleads for us in all trouble and danger; it 
sees Him to be the unfailing and almighty Friend, ready at 
all times to do us kindly service; it sees Him to be our 
ascended human Brother, who is preparing for the home 
coming of all the members of the family. It is the grand 
privilege of the Christian to have a faith about Christ; 
strong, clear and realizing, no wavering, changeful and 
frightened thing, but a thing of deepest convictions; a trust 
utter, unmovable, eternal, so that we may repeat the words 
of olden time, " We believe and are sure that Thou art the 
Christ, the Son of the living God." 

This joy in Christ means another thing. We have learned 
to speak a second great word. That word is Love. Whom 
having not seen ye love. " Lord, Thou knowest all things, 
Thou knowest that I love Thee." 

When Christ is realized to be what He is, love has no 



334 



Centennial Memorial. 



difficulty. It leaps into being; it finds in Him all that it 
wants. In all earthly love there is need of caution, measure- 
ment and restraint. We cannot give ourselves up utterly 
to any human thing or human being. They have weak- 
nesses. There are spots, flecks and shadows about the best 
and strongest of earth. 

But there is no defect, no shadow, no stain about Jesus 
Christ. The perfection of humanity and the glory of 
divinity are His. We may love Him utterly and without 
reserve. He will meet it all, answer it all, satisfy it all. 

Now comes joy. When through our deepest soul the 
€onviction makes its way, of the reality of Christ, that He is 
divine, good, almighty; and that He is for me a friend, a 
saviour for me, and the soul surrenders to it all thoroughly ; 
then love is born, and gladness flows through the whole 
being. 

A firm faith and a hearty love — without any happiness? 
Impossible. The believing, loving soul must be a happy 
soul. The believing, loving church must be a happy 
church. The man who believes and loves Christ, as he 
ought, as he may, has in him the seed and the principle of 
a grand uplifting power of rejoicing. He cannot help him- 
self. He must rejoice. He must be happy. It is a blessed 
necessity that compels every one who is in Christ by faith 
and love to be happy in Him. 

Many in the world about us, many who stand high among 
the scholars and great men of the age give their sad 
answer to the question, Is this life worth living? They are 
pessimists. They see the heavy yoke that is on the sons of 
Adam. They note the weary and tragic sides of human 



Sermon of Rev. Tliomas H. Robinson. 



335 



history, the mystery, the bewildering evil, the want and woe. 
They are the malcontents, the disappointed, the suicides, for 
whom death is an escape from tedium or misery. They 
have lost their hold on faith and the unseen. They have 
failed to put God in the center of their lives and have 
exiled themselves from Christ. They have not tasted the 
good word of God, nor learned what it is to have life by 
believing in the Son of God, incarnate, crucified, risen, 
enthroned, and so they know nothing of that peace of God 
that swept away all the vexations of this mortal life. 

Followers of the risen and glorified Christ, you ought to 
rejoice. If any in the world have a light to rejoice, it is you. 
You ought to be the happiest beings on the face of the earth. 
If you are sad and gloomy Christians, you should be filled 
with shame because of it. Believing in such a Saviour as you 
have, accepting Him as your eternal friend, accepted by Him, 
loved by Him, cared for by Him, it is a sin in you not to be 
happy all the day long. The world should see it beaming 
in your faces. The flags of joy should wave over every 
assembly of Christ's friends. He is worthy to be rejoiced in. 
u Rejoice in the Lord alway," again I will say, rejoice. 



THE DUTY OF OUR SECOND CENTURY. 



By George B. Stewart, Minister. 



Psalms 16:6. 

The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places ; Yea, I have a 
goodly heritage. 

The events of the past week have brought to our attention 
in an emphatic and delightful way God's exceeding goodness 
to this congregation, the honor and the power which he has 
been pleased to bestow upon us. In view of the glorious 
past and the exalted present, every one of us is inspired to 
make the words of the Psalmist our own : " The lines are 
fallen unto me in pleasant places; Yea, I have a goodly 
heritage." We have been encouraged to retrospection — 
"looking backward" over the century of history in which 
many of us have borne some part, and in which this Church 
has had multiplied evidence of the divine presence and 
guidance. The last week has been one of unalloyed delight, 
of inspiration, of sincere thanksgiving. 

The history of a hundred years has been no mean story. 
The struggles, the labors, the trials, the successes of the 
century have been rehearsed with mingled feelings of grati- 
tude to our heavenly Father, and of legitimate admiration 
for our noble ancestors. Those who have gone before us 
bore a praiseworthy part in the establishment of the kingdom 
of Christ in this community. They were not faultless, but 
they were God's own; and they wrought well and nobly in 



Sermon of Rev. George B. Stewart. 



337 



his name. They have left to us a precious legacy in a good 
reputation. We are happier than ever in being identified 
with a Church whose name is honored in this community, 
and throughout the world. We have come into a goodly 
fellowship and we know better now than ever how priceless 
is our inheritance in this congregation. 

Grateful as we are for the past, happy as we are for the 
memory of it, we nevertheless must turn from it. Centenary 
anniversaries are delightful occasions. It would not be 
surprising if we were disposed to say in the language of the 
old hymn : 

' 1 My willing soul would stay 

In such a frame as this, 
And sit and sing herself away 

To everlasting bliss." 

But that we cannot do. We cannot, we must not, tarry 
in these delightful fields of memory. It is our duty to raise 
our Ebenezer, to put up our monument to the glory of God 
and the praise of his servants, and then pass on. Duty 
beckons us to new labors, trials and achievements. 

The Duty of Our Second Century. 
I. Our duty stated broadly. 

It is impossible within the limits of a single discourse to 
particularize all the duty that devolves upon us as disciples 
of Christ, as a congregation of his people. I can only hope 
at this time to draw your attention to certain duties which 
are emphasized by the occasion. Our feet are standing 
upon the threshhold of a new century. Our faces are 
turned toward the dawn of another hundred years. We 



338 



Centennial Memorial. 



have been looking over our possessions, examining our 
inheritance, rejoicing in the large accumulations of the past 
which are now ours, andwe are sensible of the responsibility 
which wealth always brings. 

Truly the lines are fallen unto us in pleasant places, and 
we have a goodly heritage. We must not be unmindful 
that the Psalmist used this expression with reference to 
Jehovah. "The Lord is the portion of mine inheritance, 
and my cup; thou maintainest my lot." Jehovah is his 
God, is to him the sum of all good. In the words of Paul, 
the great apostle, "All things are yours, and ye are Christ's, 
and Christ is God's." From our Jehovah comes all the 
blessing, all the treasure, all the honor. He always remains 
ours. Things may pass away, the portion of our lot may 
grow smaller and smaller, the generations may move on and 
disappear, but he remains the same yesterday, to-day and 
forever, our eternal possession. We rejoice in him, we 
magnify Him, we exalt Him above all other beings. We 
preach Christ, and Him crucified. In Him we glory. To 
all the world we proclaim that having Him we have all 
things; having Him we lack nothing. He truly is our 
inheritance and our portion. We rejoice that our noble 
sires, our sturdy forefathers accepted the Christ and the 
gospel when presented to them ; that they took Him into 
their hearts and lives to be their Lord and Saviour; that 
they preserved the gospel in its purity and power ; that they 
taught their children after them the blessed truth as it is in 
Jesus; and that each succeeding generation, believing in 
Him, told those who were to come after them the story of 
the cross, and inspired in them by their words and example 



Sermon of Rev. George B. Stewart. 



339 



a true loyalty to the Master and Saviour of men. Thus it 
has come to be that the Lord Jehovah is our inheritance ; 
that Jesus is our Saviour ; that the Holy Spirit is our Sanc- 
tifier and Guide. This is the sum of the blessing in which 
we rejoice. This is the priceless heritage to which we have 
fallen heir. 

This is the heritage we are to transmit to our children. 
This knowledge of the living God, the everlasting Father, 
the Prince of Peace, we must give to others. We are cus- 
todians of the truth, not "to have and to hold," but to have 
and bestow. As we have freely received, we must freely 
give. We are debtors to the world by so much as we have 
the gospel of light and life and love. 

II. Our duty stated more particularly. 

The words of our text readily adapt themselves to the 
peculiar temper of our mind and heart at this time. Our 
lot has specially bright aspects which the century of history 
presents to us. In our great treasure-trove we note brilliant 
jewels in which we find peculiar delight. It is not difficult 
to mark them. To these I desire to call your particular 
attention, and to the duty growing out of them. 

The duty of our second century, expressed in a single 
phrase, is loyalty to our traditions. This is the gist of what 
I am to say to-night. All that follows will be to illustrate 
and enforce this commanding duty. 

Loyalty to our traditions does not mean narrowness, or 
bigotry, or conservativeness, or any ecclesiastical bour- 
bonism. The whole spirit of progress, of aggressive, intel- 
ligent, large-minded, large-hearted sympathy with the 
present, of skillful adaptation of truth and activity to the 



340 



Centennial Memorial. 



needs of the hour are wrapped up in the observance of this 
one duty. 

We have a goodly heritage and must keep it. The 
traditions of the Church are the character of the Church. 
New Churches are apt to be heterogeneous and unformed in 
their character but as the years lengthen out into decades, 
and scores, and centuries, they come to have their own 
particular way of doing their work, of viewing truth, of 
developing their life. They come to have an individuality 
which is recognized as their own. This means simply 
that they have each a mission to perform, and they go 
about it in their own way. The fact that some people 
like one Church better than another, feel more at home in 
it, or feel more in sympathy with its aims and spirit, is a 
recognition of this that each Church has its own individ- 
uality. 

What we commonly call the traditions of a church are 
the marks by which it is known. It is not at all surprising 
that many of the traditions which I mention this evening 
as belonging to us to some extent belong also to other 
Churches. Everybody has a nose, and eyes, and ears; but 
there is just enough variety in these to make faces differ. 
Traditions are so combined and compounded in us as to 
give us an individuality which makes us, a Church, in no 
small degree, unlike the other churches whose fellowship we 
delight in, and whose magnificent progress we rejoice over. 
I call you, therefore, to note the traditions of this Church, as 
I understand them, and to press upon you loyalty to them, 
that is to say, to urge you to maintain the character of this 
Church. If it has gained anything during the past hun- 



Sermon of Rev. George B. Stewart. 



341 



dred years that is worth keeping, it is its character. The 
individual acts and events of the preceding generations 
have contributed toward its formation. The past activities 
have converged toward the present moment. A hundred 
years have written their lines upon our face, and men know 
us as we are. Our name stands for a distinct idea in this 
city, and of it we are justly proud, and for the maintenance 
of it we should bend our efforts. 

I am constrained to say that I know no Church whose 
traditions are more to my liking; and, as I believe, more 
Scriptural. When, nine years ago or more, I was delib- 
erating whether I should accept your unanimous call to 
become your Pastor, one of the considerations which led me 
to make a decision agreeably to your wishes w 7 as the charac- 
ter of this Church as I gathered it from the traditions cur- 
rent among you. I felt that I w r ould be at home among a 
people whose past and whose present place the emphasis 
yours do upon certain phases of the Christian life. In this 
I have not been disappointed. As the Minister of this 
Church, " The lines have fallen unto me in pleasant places, 
and I have a goodly heritage." Each one of you is 
justified in making the same declaration in view of your 
membership here. 

What are some of these traditions which indicate our past 
life and our present character? 

1. Loyalty to your Minister, and those who have the rule 
over you. 

The fact that you have had but five Pastors in a hundred 
years is evidence of this. If I read your history correctly 
there has been an unvarying loyalty to and an affectionate 



342 



Centennial Memorial. 



regard for, your Ministers. They have always felt that they 
could depend upon their congregation to sustain them in 
every good work. In time of crisis, when your Minister 
and your officers have been called upon to make momen- 
tous decisions as well as in the ordinary routine of church 
activity, they have not failed of your cordial and hearty 
support. To secure this co-operation in any undertaking it 
has only been necessary for them to make known to you 
that they deemed the undertaking expedient. Your trus- 
tees, your deacons, your elders have never appealed to you 
in vain for support in any good work. Happy are the 
official boards, happy is the Minister who are of a church 
with such a character as this. I cannot but believe that 
this will characterize your future attitude toward your Min- 
ister and officers. The second century ought to witness the 
same cordial, liberal and unvarying loyalty toward those 
who bear the rule among you. It is a tradition worth 
maintaining. 

2. Large benevolence. 

The reputation of this congregation in the city and Pres- 
bytery for liberality toward church causes and local char- 
ities, organized and unorganized, is truly enviable. For 
generations this has been your reputation. It has led many 
to infer that this is a rich Church, and to speak of it as such. 
The fact is, that this is not a rich Church, but a liberal one. 
And this is more to your credit. And it is more to the 
advantage of all good enterprises. You and your predeces- 
sors have counted it a great privilege to give generously for 
the advancement of every good work. This characteristic 
should continue. Every individual member of this Church 



Sermon of Rev. George B. Stewart. 343 



should count it one of the highest privileges the Master 
bestows to give out of his abundance and out of his poverty 
for the support of good works. It is jokingly said by some, 
that we take a collection on every occasion. It is to our 
praise that we embrace every opportunity to give to the 
Lord's work. May we ever merit this praise. 

There are vast undertakings, there are mighty interests, 
there are great causes to be maintained and advanced. We 
must bear our part, every one of us. Count this as a prec- 
ious portion of your inheritance. Have you little, give 
little; have you much, give much. You who are young, 
upon whose mind the memory of this past week will linger 
for many years, will soon come into the responsibilities, the 
duties and the obligations of this Church. Begin now to 
cultivate the spirit of liberality. Count it your privilege to 
give out of your small possessions. This generation must 
not drop below the past in the liberality of our gifts. Every 
member of the congregation ought to be spurred by the 
magnificent generosity which has characterized the past 
years to an equally magnificent generosity in the days and 
years to come. 

3. Activity in good works. 

In reading the early history of the Church, and in listen- 
ing to the history as it was so admirably presented by Doc- 
tor Eobinson, I have been impressed with the disposition the 
members of this Church have always had to advance 
every good undertaking. In all moral reforms in the com- 
munity, in every missionary enterprise, in all efforts to 
relieve the distress of the poor, to enlighten the ignorant, to 
lift up the degraded, to spread the knowledge of the gospel 



344 



Centennial Memorial. 



in our own region, in our own country, and in all the 
world, this congregation has been foremost. Illustrative of 
tjjis, it may be mentioned that the church organized the 
first Sunday-school for all this region ; it was the prime 
mover in the organization of the Y. M. C. A. ; it was in the 
forefront of the Washingtonian temperance work ; its women 
organized what is probably the oldest woman's prayer-meet- 
ing in our Presbyterian Church ; when other Churches were 
still indifferent to missionary enterprise, this Church was 
awake ; it was the first to organize its women for home and 
foreign work ; it had the first Christian Endeavor Society in 
this city. In every forward movement of the Church, it 
has been found in the front rank. 

The record of a hundred years is the record of work, 
readiness to further the interest of the community and 
the world, and of achievement brought about by self-sac- 
rificing and heroic endeavor. 

I call upon you this evening as you enter upon the new 
century, to resolve that this shall be the character of this 
congregation in the future. Be quick to further every good 
enterprise, to take firm hold upon moral reforms, to advance 
the interests of the city, to exalt the name of the Lord in 
the mission fields of the country, and of the world. Having 
put your hands to the plow, look not back. Press steadily 
onward in all the activities of the Church. There is much 
latent and unused talent here. The working forces of the 
Church might be easily and largely augmented if each in- 
dividual member would set about his own particular task. 
The condition of success, of growth, of life, is work. The 
history which delights us is what it is because our fathers 



Sermon of Rev. George B. Stewart. 345 

" had a mind to work." May we, their children, have the 
same mind. You have come into a large inheritance of ac- 
tivity. The Church is admirably equipped for all kinds of 
endeavor. Everyone can find something to his liking. 
Some kind of work for which he is especially and particu- 
larly adapted. Let him make his own selection. Let him 
ask what kind of work he is to do in order to maintain 
he tradition of this Church as a Church of intense enthus- 
iasm and conse- crated activity. 

4. Keadiness to meet emergencies. 

Those who have listened to the record of our history have 
been impressed with the courage, intelligence, and wisdom 
with which the various emergencies of the past have been 
met. It is not necessary to rehearse any one of them. That 
has already been ably done. I simply call your attention 
to the fact that the crises in the life of this Church have 
been ably and successfully passed. Through all its trials 
and perils it has come with increased strength and renewed 
vigor. Calmness, dignity, heroism, wisdom, are written on 
the pages of our history in bold characters. I pray you 
that in coming days there may be no lack of these great 
virtues in our congregation. May we ever be ready to rise 
to every occasion, and meet every exigency, embrace every 
opportunity to do our duty with firmness, with zeal, with 
heroism. 

5. Attachment to our faith and order. 

We are a Presbyterian Church, we never have been 
anything else either in fact or in spirit. A hundred years 
of loyal adherence to the doctrine of our Church has won 
for us the right of claiming, what is not now disputed, that 



346 



Centennial Memorial. 



we are in heart and life true Presbyterians. We love our 
polity ; we believe it to be both Scriptural and wise. Its 
repose of authority in the whole church, and its jealous 
protection of the autonomy of each particular congregation 
we believe secures for us the best advantages of law and 
liberty. The doctrine of our Church we most cordially 
accept. Its system of faith as set forth in the Westminster 
standards we believe to be Scriptural. That it might be 
made more truly Scriptural in its emphasis, its proportion 
of truth, its language, this pulpit favored cordially the 
effort made three years ago to revise our Confession of 
Faith. May this pulpit and these pews ever favor the 
improvement of the Confession in these respects. 

This doctrine has always been taught and accepted 
here. May we always retain our character in this 
respect. May we always be loyal in our adherence to a 
Scriptural polity and a Scriptural creed. May we never 
turn from the Bible as the only infallible rule of faith and 
life. May we never lose the spirit of Presbyterianism which 
exalts the Lord as the head of the Church, and regards the 
fellowship of the saints as the true type of Christian unity. 

6. Christian fraternity. 

The annals of this Church are marked by a large spirit 
of brotherly love, and of delightful Christian fellowship 
with the other Churches of this city. When there was but 
one other denomination we dwelt with it in delightful 
accord land mutual regard, and now that there are fifty 
or more other Churches, we desire to maintain the same 
spirit of brotherly love. I am pleased to state, as an indi- 
cation of this fact, that when your committee was deliber- 



Sermon of Rev. George B. Stewart. 



347 



ating with reference to the matter of extending invitations 
to this centennial, it decided with unanimity and great 
heartiness to extend in the name of the congregation an 
invitation to every minister in the city, both Hebrew and 
Christian, Catholic and Protestant. I rejoice in the 
reputation which you so universally have of being a 
large-minded, broad and liberal Church. May no spirit 
of narrowness or bigotry ever take possession of this pulpit 
or these pews. May we ever be quick to recognize the 
image of our God in any man. May we delight to cultivate 
the broadest sympathies, the largest charity, the warmest 
fraternity for our fellow citizens in the community of men, 
and for our fellow disciples in the kingdom of God. 
7. Love of liberty. 

If our ancestors have given us one treasure more precious 
than the rest it is this. At the siege of Derry and elsewhere 
before and since, and among the hills of the Palatinate, they 
counted not their lives dear for their love of liberty. 
Anarchy either in the church or in the State has found no 
place in their creed or their practice. They loved order r 
they delighted in law, but they abhored despotism. They 
stood firmly on their feet in the maintenance of their man- 
hood. They were willing to sacrifice everything save their 
independence. This they maintained against all comers in 
order that they might lay it at the feet of the one Sovereign 
of men, the risen and ascended Lord. Throughout the 
history of this congregation there is the same record of 
noble, respectful, loyal recognition of authority properly 
constituted and legally exercised, and along with it the 



-348 



Centennial Memorial. 



most emphatic and unswerving resistance of every attempt 
at despotic rule. 

When in 1837, for example, the spirit of despotism and 
intolerance of difference of opinion took possession of the 
church, and expressed itself in the exscinding acts of the 
General Assembly of that year, by which certain Synods, 
Presbyteries and congregations were cut off from the 
church, notwithstanding their protests of loyalty to both 
the creed and polity of the church, this congregation, pastor 
and people, were willing to take their stand with the 
exscinded churches in the maintenance of their rights. 
They claimed the liberty of interpretation, a claim subse- 
quently acknowledged by all in the Reunion of 1870, and 
they would not surrender so sacred a right. 

The traditions of these early struggles still remain with 
us, and the spirit of our fathers is the spirit of their sons. 
We delight in law, we recognize the authority of our tri- 
bunals, and we render true and loyal obedience ; but we will 
not surrender our liberty at the command of any tribunal. 
May we never enter into sla very, and there is no slavery 
more debasing, more poisoned with death to the intellect, the 
heart and the life than slavery to opinion. We claim the 
right as true Presbyterians, and may we always claim it, to 
think for ourselves ; to open the word of God, and to get 
from it its precious truths; to bow to the will of no man and 
no church in the matters in which God has revealed to us 
our path of duty. We continue to love the liberty for 
which our fathers fought, the liberty which they have 
secured for us in the wisely framed constitutions of State 
and Church. For there is nothing that the constitution of 



Sermon of Rev. George B. Stewart. 



349' 



this country so jealously guards as the individual liberties 
of the people. There is nothing that the constitution of our 
Presbyterian church so plainly and emphatically secures as. 
the liberty of both her ministers and her people. The 
whole framework of our church government was designed 
to secure to every man the enjoyment of his liberties, and 
the preservation of his individual rights. May we ever 
regard it as our highest duty to use the whole machinery of 
our ecclesiastical organization to thwart every attempt 
of Session, Presbytery, Synod or General Assembly in the 
tyrannous exercise of power. 

This spirit we have inherited. Into this and like posses- 
sions we have come, and we must preserve our inheritance.. 
The only way to keep what we have is to add to it. We 
rejoice in our character. We take it as a compliment when- 
ever one of these characteristics of our congregation is : 
referred to. May we intensify the significance of the praise 
by increasing our possession of the virtue. We stand on 
the crest of a hundred years. The mountain peak of the 
century furnishes us the vantage ground from which to- 
look upon the vast possibilities of our life. A broad 
horizon is opened to our view. The way by which we have 
come is marked clearly for us in the monuments of past 
achievements, of past activity, of past nobility. The way 
by which we are to go is to a very large extent hidden from 
our view. We cannot see what the coming century has for 
this church, and we would not if we could. We are walk- 
ing with God, he is our portion and our inheritance. We 
trust the way to him, we delight in his guidance, and 
repose absolute confidence in his leadership. Yet we are- 



350 



Centennial Memorial. 



assured if the past has brought anything to us that is worth 
keeping, it is our character as a church. That character it 
is our solemn duty to maintain. These virtues which our 
fathers have won for us we must seek to increase. We 
build upon the past ; we perpetuate its blessings in maintain- 
ing this noblest of characters. It is now ours ; and, by the 
grace of God, we will make it our children's. 



APPENDIX. 



A CENTURY OF PASTOES. 



REV. NATHANIEL RANDOLPH SNOWDEN. 

Pastor 1793-1805. 



By Major General George R. Snowden. 



The Reverend Nathaniel Randolph Snowden. fourth son of Isaac 
and Mary Coxe Snowden, was born in Philadelphia on the 17th of 
January, 1770. and received his baptismal name in honor of his grand- 
uncle, Nathaniel Pitz Randolph, of the New Jersey and Massachusetts 
family of that name, who started the first subscription paper to found 
the College at Princeton, and gave the ground on which was built 
Nassau Hall. His father, besides being President of the Board of 
Trustees of the College of New Jersey at Princeton, and member of 
committee to draft form of government of the Presbyterian Church, 
was Quartermaster in the Army of the Revolution, Commissioner for 
the Issue of Continental Currency, Treasurer of the city and county of 
Philadelphia, etc., etc. He was born in that city in 1732, and died in 
1809, and was buried in the grounds of Old Middletown Presbyterian 
church in Delaware county, while the son was Pastor. His grand- 
father, Isaac, first, was a ruling elder and member of the first Session 
of the Second Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, established in 
1743, with which the family has been since continuously connected. 
His great-grandfather was John Snowden, elder of the First Presby- 
terian Church of that city, the first elder ordained in Pennsylvania 
and believed to be the first ordained in this country. 

Nathaniel Randolph Snowden, graduated at Princeton in 1787. His 
four brothers also took degrees at the same college, three of them 
with himself becoming honored and useful clergymen in the Church 
of their forefathers. In 1788 he began the study of theology under 
Rev. Dr. Charles Nesbit, President of Dickinson College ; then a 
Presbyterian institution ; taking a full course in theology he was 
licensed to preach in 1792, by the Presbytery of Philadelphia. In 
the same year he married Sarah Gustine. of Carlisle, who was the 
daughter of Dr. Lemuel Gustine, and granddaughter of Dr. "William 



356 



Centennial Memorial. 



Hooker Smith, both surgeons in the Revolutionary army, taking- 
part in Sullivan's Expedition. Dr. Gustine was witness to the Treaty 
of Forty Fort and escaping with his family down the Susquehanna 
in a boat, landed at Harris' Ferry, and the daughter, Sarah, was the 
last survivor of the massacre of Wyoming. Through Dr. Smith she 
was descended from the distinguished Puritans, Governor William 
Leete and the Rev. Thomas Hooker ; the latter, to whom a statue 
has been recently erected by the State of Connecticut, was especially 
noted for his services in the formation of free institutions in that 
Colony. 

The first charge of the young minister was at Paxtang and Derry, 
where in 1793 he succeeded the celebrated Revolutionary hero, the 
Rev. Colonel John Elder, and Harrisburg, where he was the first 
pastor of the English-speaking, now known as the Market Square, 
Presbyterian Church.* His residence at Harrisburg was, perhaps, 
the most pleasant of his life, for here his children, save one, were 
born, and he always referred to his pastorate of this congregation in 
terms which indicated the warmth of his affection for his people and 
the tenderness of his recollections of them. A fine scholar, he con- 
ducted for some years Dickinson College, and at the places where he 
was settled he was seldom content without a class to teach in mathe- 
matics and the classics. In 1806, at Lancaster, then the State cap- 
ital, he conducted with much usefulness an academy for young ladies. 
In the list of pupils appear the names of all the leading families. 
During a long and useful life, rather fond, perhaps, of seeking new 
fields he was, besides Paxtang and Harrisburg, the honored pastor of 
congregations at Williamsport, Chester, Pittsburgh and Kittanning. 
In his pastorate he followed the old customs in explaining the Psalms 
at length, and in social visits questioning the children in the Shorter 
Catechism, and joining with the family in prayer, in which he was 
remarkably fervent. His favorite book was the Greek Testament, his 
daily companion until failing sight denied him the comfort and con- 
solation of reading it. Not especially noted for oratory, his sermons 
were clear, forcible, written with much literary taste and delivered 
with an earnestness in full appreciation of his calling. A fragment 
of a diary which remains, shows hardships which befell the early 
ministers of the gospel, but it also shows his entire trust in the 
divine Master and constant and fervid appeals to the throne of mercy. 

*On April io, 1793, he was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Carlisle, and a 
call from the three congregations of Derry, Paxtang and Harrisburg, having been put 
into his hands and accepted by him, he was, on October 2, 1793, ordained and installed 
over these churches. Subsequently he relinquished the charge of Derry in October, 
1795, and of Paxtang in Spring of 1796. Harrisburg remained his sole charge until 
June 25, 1805.— Editor. 



A Century of Pastors. 



357 



Admiring with pardonable pride the patriotic and valuable services 
of his father in the Revolution, he was fond of saying that he had 
heard, when a child, the bell ring to announce the reading of the 
Declaration of Independence. It is a tradition in the family that, 
with a number of other Presbyterian clergymen, he volunteered to 
form a company in the war of 1812-15 with Great Britain, but their 
services were declined. Two sons, however, Isaac and Charles, both 
quite young, well represented him in the ranks of his country's de- 
fenders. Of more than middle height, he had a fine physique and 
blessed with uniformly good health, was capable of great endurance. 

At Freeport, Armstrong county, at the residence of his son, 
Charles, in 1850, he died in peace, and his beloved and accomplished 
wife, the companion of many joys and sorrows, followed him to rest 
in 1854. They left six children: Isaac Wayne, a surgeon with Gen- 
eral Jackson in the South, severely wounded at Fort Scott ; Charles 
Gustine ; Lemuel Gustine ; Mary Parker, wife of James Thompson, 
afterward Chief Justice of the Supreme Court ; Nathaniel Duffield, 
and James Ross. Of these all were born at Harrisburg, except the 
youngest, who was born at Chester, and all are now dead. Four sons 
were leading and successful physicians, while James Ross was a 
lawyer and noted in public life, holding many positions of trust and 
honor — Speaker House of Representatives of Pennsylvania, State 
Treasurer, Director of the Mint, etc., etc., and an author of reputa- 
tion. Of his grandchildren may be mentioned Archibald Loudon 
Snowden, late Superintendent of the Mint, United States Minister to 
Greece and Spain, etc., etc.; James Ross Thompson, an eminent 
lawyer of Erie ; Samuel Gustine Thompson, late Justice of the 
Supreme Court ; Dr. Samuel Gustine Snowden, a distinguished physi- 
cian, of Franklin, now deceased, and George Randolph Snowden, 
Major General commanding the National Guard of Pennsylvania." 



REV. JAMES BUCHANAN. 

Pastor 1809-1815. 



The Church and Home of August, 1883, contains the following 
sketch : 

"The second pastor of the church was the Rev. James Buchanan. 
During the vacancy which succeeded on the departure of Rev. N. R. 
Snowden, Mr. Buchanan, then a young man and a licentiate of the 
Presbytery of Newcastle, was sent for and preached his first sermon 



358 



Centennial Memorial. 



to the people May 17, 1807. During that year he continued to hold 
that pulpit as a stated supply. His services proved to be so accepta- 
ble to the people that on the 5th of February, 1808, at a meeting of 
the congregation, presided over by the Rev. James Snodgrass, of 
" Old Hanover ; " he was called to be the pastor of the church. On 
the 15th of April he was received as a licentiate by the Presbytery 
of Carlise, and taken under its care. The call from the Harrisburg 
church was placed in his hands, and accepted by him. He was or- 
dained to the full work of the ministry, September 29, 1808, and Rev. 
Messrs. James Snodgrass, James Sharon and Joseph Brady, were ap- 
pointed a committee to install him. Mr. Sharon was then pastor of 
Paxtang and Derry churches, and Mr. Brady, of Shermansdale, Perry 
county. The installation took place February 13, 1809, Rev. Mr. 
Snodgrass presiding and giving the charge to the young pastor, and 
Rev. Mr. Sharon preaching the sermon. Mr. Brady was not present. 
Mr. Buchanan was called on a salary of one hundred and fifty pounds 
for three-fourths of his time. The remaining fourth was given to a 
small congregation at Middle Paxtang or Dauphin. The original 
church, a log one, long since gone, stood on the high ground back of 
the village of Dauphin, and about a mile from the river. The village 
cemetery now occupies the site. Fifty pounds more were added to 
his salary for this additional service. This money was in old Penn- 
sylvania currency, the two hundred pounds amounting to about five 
hundred dollars. 

"It is not known how long Mr. Buchanan continued to preach in 
the Middle Paxtang church. His relation to the Harrisburg church 
continued until September 20, 1815, when it was dissolved, it is be- 
lieved, on account of his ill health. He served the church as supply 
and as settled pastor for over eight years. 

"For the following three years Mr. Buchanan preached but seldom. 
In 1818 he accepted a call to the church at Greencastle, preach- 
ing a part of the time at Waynesboro. He continued his charge at 
Greencastle until 1839, a period of twenty-one years, and was greatly 
beloved. He removed thence to Logansport, Indiana, where he died 
on the 16th of September, 1843, after a ministry of over thirty-six 
years. 

"Mr. Buchanan is described as a man of tall form, commanding 
presence, and great gravity of manner. No one could mistake his 
profession or his character. He was neat and scrupulous in dress 
and courteous in his bearing. His sermons were short, compact and 
precise, remarkably so for that day of long sermons and diffusiveness 
of style. Few men, it has been said, could say so much as he in so 
few words. Though he was not regarded as an eloquent preacher, he 



A Century of Pastors. 



359 



was a clear, and able and instructive one, and his thorough sincerity 
and deep earnestness made him an impressive one. He had, how- 
ever, a very low estimate of his own abilities. Owing probably to a 
deranged condition of his own physical system, he was nervous and 
subject to periods of depression, falling into states of deep melan- 
choly, and was a great sufferer from these causes. He became so 
nervous and timid that, while in Greencastle, he refused, for a time, 
to perform marriages even between members of his own congrega- 
tion. It was probably this nervous and depressed condition of mind 
that accounts for the following incident, narrated of him by the late 
John A. Weir. Having given out a hymn, one Sunday morning, the 
singers for some unknown reason neglected to sing, though there 
were some fine singers in the congregation. Mr. B. closed the ser- 
vice abruptly, saying, on the following day : "If the singers could 
not sing, the preacher could not preach." 

' ' He was universally esteemed as a good man and a man of great 
force of character. Wherever he ministered he inspired reverence 
and trust, and where well known, sincere affection. His people both 
feared and loved him, perhaps the one as much as the other. His 
grave and dignified manner rebuked all levity and lightness, while 
his real goodness and sympathy and purity of life commanded rever- 
ence and esteem." 

Mr. Buchanan, and his beloved wife, lie side side by in the old 
burying ground of Logansport, Indiana. Two plain, white marble 
stones, each about four feet high and three inches thick mark their 
resting-place. The following are the simple inscriptions upon these 
headstones : 

Rev. JAMES BUCHANAN 
Died at Logansport 
Sept. 16, 1843 
in the 62nd year 
of his age 



HARRIET BUCHANAN 
wife of 
Rev. James Buchanan 
Died March 12, 1869. 
aged 82 years. 



Some interesting references to his father are contained in Mr. D. 
C. Buchanan's letter on pages 310 to 314 of this volume. 



360 



Centennial Memorial. 



WILLIAM RADCLIFFE DeWITT, D. D. 

Pastor 1818-1867. 



By Rev. Thomas H. Robinson, D. D. 



Among- the most ancient families of Holland descent that settled in 
the State of New York, was that of Tjenick Claase DeWitt, the first 
of the DeWitt family of whom we have any record, He was married 
in the city of New York, April 26, 1656, to Barber Andriesen, as 
appears by the records of the Dutch Church of that city. He is 
described as " van Grootholdt in Zunderlandt," and his wife as "van 
Amsterdam." The names of the succeeding line are as follows : I. 
Andriesen, son of Tjenick Claase ; II. Tjerie, son of Andriesen ; III. 
Petrus, son of Tjerie; IV. John, son of Petrus; V. William R., son 
of John. 

Dr. DeWitt's ancestry were of that noble race of men, who were 
Calvinists in religion, and republican in politics, for many genera- 
tions. 

The Dutch were almost universally of the Reformed Churches in 
religious faith, and sturdy lovers of freedom in the State. Memor- 
able in the Old World for their devotion to liberty and religion, the 
family of the De Witts partook of the spirit of its race, and was early 
distinguished for its patriotism and devotion to country. Pour gen- 
erations have each furnished defenders in times of national peril. 
From some ancient relics in the family, we learn that Petrus DeWitt 
was a captain in the old French war, and fought under Wolfe, at the 
siege and capture of Quebec. His son, John DeWitt, during the 
entire Revolutionary war, was the captain of a company of minute 
men appointed to guard the loyal citizens against the incessant and 
troublesome raids of Tories, who abounded in the section of country 
north of New York. After the close of the war, he was elected a 
member of the Convention of the State of New York, and voted for 
the adoption of the Constitution of the United States. 

William Radcliffe DeWitt, the sixth son of John DeWitt, was born 
at Paudling's Manor, Duchess county, New York, on the 25th of 
February, 1792. He was named after his uncle, the Hon. William 
Radcliffe, of Rhinebeck, Duchess county. The family of the Rad- 
cliffes, to which the mother of Dr. DeWitt belonged, were distin- 
guished in civil life ; one of them, Jacob Radcliffe, serving for several 
years as a Judge of the Supreme Court of the State of New York ; 



A Century of Pastors. 



361 



another, Peter Rad cliff e, an eminent lawyer of the New York bar, 
and a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Kings county : and a 
third. William Radcliffe, for many years United States Consul at 
Demarara. 

At the early age of ten years, he was deprived, by her death, of 
the counsel and love of a mother. After spending several of his 
earlier years in school, and receiving a common English education, 
William R. was employed as a clerk, first in his father's store in the 
city of Albany, New York, afterwards with his brother Cornelius, in 
Fairfield. Herkimer county, and later still in the store of his father 
and brother at Newburg, New York. At about the age of fifteen he 
entered into the employ of Cairns & Lord, dry goods merchants, of 
the city of New York, and continued with them until the year 1811. 
Whilst residing with them, and in their store, his mind became much 
exercised on the subject of his own personal salvation ; and on Jan- 
uary 8, 1810, he made a public profession of religion, connecting him- 
self with the Presbyterian Church in Cedar street, then under the 
pastoral care of Rev. John B. Romeyn, D. D. Shortly afterward his 
attention was turned to the subject of the sacred ministry, and Dis- 
own duty in respect to it. 

After careful consideration and prayer over the matter, Mr. DeWitt 
felt called of God to relinquish all worldly ends, and prepare for the 
responsible office ; and in 1811, then in his nineteenth year, he left 
New York and went to reside with Rev. Alexander Proudfit, of 
Salem, Washington county, New York, and entering Washington 
Academy, began a course of classical studies under the tuition of Mr. 
Stevenson, the principal of the school. 

While still a student at Washington Academy, the second war with 
Great Britain broke out, and leaving his studies, young DeWitt en- 
listed as a volunteer in the regiment of Colonel Rice, that was called 
out to resist the invasion of the British at Plattsburg, and was on 
lake Champlain at the time of McDonough's victory, September 11, 
1814, when the whole British fleet became the trophies of American 
valor. After the close of the war, sometime in the year 1815, he en- 
tered Nassau Hall, Princeton, New Jersey, as a Sophomore, and re- 
mained there until his senior year, when because of an interruption 
in his studies of the college, he withdrew and entered the senior class 
of Union College, Schenectday, N. Y. 

Leaving Union College before the close of the senior year, Mr. De 
Witt returned to New York, and entered the Theological Seminary 
of the Associate Reformed Church. While in this Seminary Mr 
De Witt connected himself with the Presbytery of New York and 
was licensed by that body on April 23, 1818. The summer months of 



362 



Centennial Memorial. 



1818 were spent in preaching in the State of New York, but early in 
the fall of that year, having received from a friend an invitation to 
visit Harrisburg, he came hither and spent two weeks, preaching to 
the people several times. The result was that a unanimous call to 
hecome Pastor was given him on October 5, 1818. The call was 
accepted and soon after he came on and commenced his ministry. 
Uniting with the Presbytery of Carlisle, at the earliest opportunity 
he passed the usual examinations required for ordination, and on the 
26th of October, 1819, he was ordained to the office of the sacred 
ministry in the First Presbyterian church of Carlisle, and on Novem- 
ber 12th, 1819, he was installed as Pastor of this Church, having 
already served in the pulpit over one year. 

The main events in the history of the Church during the pastorate 
of Dr. De Witt are rehearsed elsewhere and need not be alluded to 
in this personal sketch. Dr. De Witt was twice married. His first 
wife, whom he married on June 22, 1819, was Julia Anna Woodhull, 
daughter of Rev. Nathan Woodhull, Long Island. This happy rela- 
tion was sadly broken, within three years, by the death of Mrs. De 
Witt, May 1, 1822. Memories of her long lingered in the congrega- 
tion as a woman of great personal beauty and attractiveness, of refined 
and winning manners, accomplished mind and unaffected piety of 
heart and life. On March 15, 1825, he married Mary Elizabeth Wal- 
lace, daughter of William and Eleanor Maclay Wallace, of Harris- 
hurg. This union, by the kind providence of God, was continued 
until severed by his own death, a period of nearly forty years. 

Dr. De Witt received the degree of A. M. in course from Union 
College, and on July 13, 1838, he was honored by the University of 
Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, with the the title of Doctor of Divin- 
ity. 

He was called by the Church courts of his own denomination to 
serve as Moderator and to discharge high and responsible duties. 
He was a member of several of the General Assemblies of the 
Church. 

With the originators and leading men in that earliest and greatest 
of American agencies for evangelizing the world, "The American 
Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions," he maintained a life 
long friendship and hearty co-operation, having been chosen a cor- 
porate member of the society in 1838, and in 1842 receiving the honor 
of an appointment to preach before the Board the annual sermon. 

In the closing years of his life, when the burdens of the pastorate 
"became heavy and he sought the aid of a colleague, he accepted the 
office of State Librarian that was pressed upon him by the Governor 
of the Commonwealth, and discharged its duties with great faithful- 
ness through two terms, a period of six years. 



A Century of Pastors. 



363 



Dr. DeWitt was a facile and elegant writer, but was disinclined to 
publish his writings. The following list comprises all that are known 
of his private discourses : 1. A Discourse in behalf of the Coloniza- 
tion Society ; 2. A Sermon on the Death of Adams and Jefferson ; 3. 
On the Evils of Intemperance ; 4. An Address on the Death of Gov. 
F. R. Shunk ; 5. A Pastoral Letter to the Churches under the care 
of the Presbytery of Harrisburg; 6. A small volume entitled, "Her 
Price above Rubies;" 7. The Sermon before the American Board of 
Commissioners for Foreign Missions ; 8. An Address at the Dedica- 
tion of the Harrisburg Cometery ; 9. A Sermon on the Death of Rev. 
Dr. Moody; 10, 11, 12. Three synodical sermons, entitled, "Min- 
isterial Responsibility," "Prayer for Zion " and " The Church that 
Christ Loved ;" 13. A Sermon when Seventy Years of Age. 

The ties that bound him to this Church, the Church of his early 
and his life-long love, the only one among all the Churches of America 
that he had ever called his own, and for whose sake he had refused 
repeated calls and solicitations to settle elsewhere, seemed only to 
grow stronger as the burden of years divorced him from active labors 
in its behalf. 

Here he had buried their dead and his own. To them he bad 
given the dew of his youth, the strength of his manhood, the care and 
counsel of his ripest years. It was natural and reasonable that, after 
so long a pastorate, he should desire to live and die among the people 
to whom he had, for nearly half a century, preached the unsearch- 
able riches of Christ ; and that the bond between him and them, of 
pastor and people, should be broken only on the edge of the grave. 
It was a wish often expressed. The wish was gratified ; for while he 
yielded to his colleague the active duties and pastoral care of the 
Church, he retained, to the moment of his death, his relation to the 
Church as its senior pastor. His official labors were now nearly ac- 
complished. So long as he was able to go out at all, even when the 
increasing infirmities of years weighed heavily upon him, he attended 
the house of God, at the Sabbath service and the social meetings of 
the Church, taking his accustomed seat in the pulpit. His last public 
address was in behalf of the female prayer meeting of the Church, 
which, during the whole of his long ministry, had been regularly 
maintained, and had proved a most faithful ally to his labors. He 
spoke with great tenderness of its past history, and urged upon all 
the female members of the Church an attendance at its weekly gath- 
erings. His last official duty is believed to have been the examina- 
tion of a young candidate for the ministry. Sitting up in his bed, he 
faithfully and kindly, drew from the young man an account of his re- 
ligious experience, of his views of the ministry, his call to the work, 



364 



Centennial Memorial. 



and purpose in entering- upon it : and, with the experience of half a 
century before him, uttered his words of counsel and encouragement, 
and pronounced his benediction upon the youthful worker. 

The elements of personal character and of personal power over 
others, very seldom proceed from the pre-eminence of one distinguish- 
ing trait ; but usually from the combination of many qualities, physi- 
cal, mental and moral. There was no one element in the character of 
Dr. De Witt that would instantly and universally be pointed out, as 
the source of his influence, or the characteristic of his life. There 
was rather a balance of qualities and elements in him that preserved 
him from all idiosyncracies. 

There was weight in his personal presence. There was that in his ap- 
perance and bearing, when in his prime, or in his vigor of full health, 
that inspired respect and indicated power. His person was of full- 
size, and good proportions, in early and middle life, and was the ex- 
pression of manly vigor and dignity. Those who remember him as 
he entered upon his ministry here, speak of his handsome and im- 
posing presence, his noble carriage, his finely developed frame, and 
glowing, manly countenance. And, at the latest years of his life, 
when his step was enfeebled and slow, and the body began to bend, 
his patriarchal aspect, as the whitened locks gathered like a crown 
of glory on his head, the calmness and gravity of a face so slightly 
altered by age, secured for him an involuntary homage and defer- 
ence. 

He was a man warmly social and genial in his temperament. His 
home life was filled with true and tender affections ; and they who 
have often met him in society, know that there were few who could 
better enliven and entertain than Dr. De Witt. He was a ready and 
fluent talker, a man of quick impulses and generous feelings, of ready 
wit, apt at repartee ; and when he opened his fund of reminiscences 
of earlier times and men, all were ready to listen. In the meetings 
of the Presbytery and Pastoral Association of this city, his presence 
was ever welcomed as that of a friend of peace, a genial spirit, a 
pattern of gentleness and forbearance. And in his own congregation, 
though often deeply depressed and despondent over his labors, there 
was never a substantial sorrow to which he did not give his presence, 
or a grief that lacked his sympathy. 

Dr. Dewitt was a man of self-depreciative and modest nature. With a 
keen and high sense of his calling as a minister of the Gospel, and 
an honest desire to preach the Gospel worthily and powerfully, 
he seldom left the pulpit without a sense of failure and personal un- 
fitness, wholly unwarranted by the character of his preaching, either 
in the matter, or the manner of its delivery. There was no self-glory 
in his nature. 



A Century of Pastors. 



365 



Dr. Dewitt was a man of unquestioned power as a preacher. His posi- 
tion at this center of influence, the capital of the State, gave him un- 
common opportunities of reaching many men of intellectual standing 
and of great influence from all parts of the State. He was a man of 
fine scholarship. He possessed a voice of great sweetness, clearness 
of tone and power. As a reader of the Holy Scriptures very few ex- 
celled him. In his early ministry, his preaching is said to have been 
peculiarly bold and eloquent in manner ; and by the added novelty, 
beauty and pungency of his thoughts, stirred to the depths the ele- 
ments of society. His discourses were written with great clearness 
and purity of style. Many of his sermons, in their matter, form, and 
in their delivery, were models of pulpit eloquence. He was impres- 
sive, dignified and graceful. Other men have excelled him in versa- 
tility of talent ; but it has fallen to the lot of few men to mould edu- 
cational, moral and religious influences in so wide a sphere and 
through so many years. The end at which he aimed was the turning 
of men to God and the training of religious life of his people ; and 
his chief instrumentality was the studious and careful preparation 
and the impressive delivery of good sermons. 

He was eminently a Christian preacher. Converted in his early 
youth ; brought under the influence of men whose praise was in the 
American Churches for their zeal, and piety, and deep devotion to 
the cause of Christ ; drawn by his own youthful ardor into the min- 
istry, the preaching of the Gospel was a work of love. And to his 
vision all truth arranged itself around one center — the cross of the 
world's Redeemer. From that center he seldom strayed ; seeking to 
obey the maxim of an old divine, to have enough of Christ in every 
discourse to point the way of approach to Him to any inquiring soul. 
He was decidedly evangelical and scriptural. He cared little for 
human speculations, dealt sparingly in what may be called the phil- 
osophy of Christianity ; but taking the truths of the Divine Word as 
they are revealed ; the lost, ruined, helpless condition of man as a 
.sinner ; the provision which God has made for his recovery in a 
vicarious atonement ; the contrasts of law and grace ; the character 
and completeness of that righteousness of Jesus Christ which is 
"imputed unto us and received by faith alone ;" the regenerating and 
sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit ; the divine nature and 
kingly authority of Jesus Christ ; the relation of his atoning blood to 
all promises of good, all growth in Christian life, and all hopes of 
heaven ; as well as to all threatenings of evil, and the condemnation 
of the guilty ; in the region of these and their related truths, that 
bring the great facts and principles of the Gospel before the mind, 
Dr. DeWitt was a preacher of great power. Clearness, precision, 



366 



Centennial Memorial. 



force, characterized his demonstrations ; fullness, fervor and pathos 
marked his appeals. Perceiving the glory and feeling the precious- 
ness of the truth himself, he exhausted his powers to secure a like 
impression on the mind and heart of his hearers. 

A Presbyterian by birth, education and preference, firm and de- 
cided in his theological views, in all the habits of his thoughts, con- 
servative and jealous of the new and untried, he was yet liberal and 
catholic in spirit. Never wavering in his preferences for, and ad- 
herence to the church to which he was attached, there was yet no 
spirit of exclusiveness in him, that claimed for his denomination all 
truth and goodness. During a ministry of nearly fifty years in this 
city, he enjoyed the confidence of all his ministerial brethren. 
He was ready to assist them in every good work, and seldom, in 
public prayer, omitted to call down the blessing of God upon them 
and their churches. Toward all who loved the Lord Jesus Christ in 
sincerity and truth, he preserved a true affection, and upon them all 
besought the grace, mercy and peace of God. 

Dr. DeWitt came here in his youth, but with a mind admirably 
trained for the work that was before him. For thirty-six years he stood 
in the pulpit of this church sole pastor. He was the teacher and 
guide of the people. He quietly planted the seeds of divine truth ; 
he worked about the roots of character. He infused his own con- 
ceptions of saving doctrine into the minds of two generations. He 
was the regular visitant upon multiplying families. He baptized 
the children, guarded inquirers, and welcomed hundreds to the table 
of communion. He linked his life with hundreds of other lives in 
beneficent influence, and buried sadly from his sight the generation 
that welcomed his coming. 

During the last years of his life he preached but seldom, having 
relinguished to his colleague the care of the church, but he continued 
still to illustrate the beauties of Christian character and the power 
of the Gospel he had so long proclaimed. His mental power remained 
unimpaired. His thought of the coming world became softened and 
subdued by the light that was breaking upon him from the heavenly 
world. He spoke of his departure with calmness, yet with tenderness 
of feeling. His earthly cares were dismissed and he waited the sum- 
mons of departure. It came as he had long desired — suddenly, and 
without pain and helplessness. In a moment " the golden bowl was 
broken," and he was gone from earthly intercourse to renew in an- 
other world the severed bonds of love and fellowship, and to greet the 
redeemed and holy ones who from the communion of this church had 
preceded him to glory. 

It would be unjust to the memory of one who impressed her life 



A Century of Pastors. 



367 



very deeply upon the lives of many in the church not to mention 
briefly Mrs. Mary E. DeWitt, who for so many years seconded the 
labors of her husband by her own. 

Mary Elizabeth Wallace, wife of William R. DeWitt, D. D., was 
the daughter of William Wallace and Eleanor Maclay. She was 
born in Erie, Pennsylvania, May 7, 1807, whither her father had re- 
moved from Harrisburg after his marriage. She was the first born 
of the household. The family returned to Harrisburg in 1810. Mrs. 
DeWitt was closely connected with prominent families in the town. 
John Harris, the founder of the town was her great-grandfather. 
William Maclay, the first Senator from Pennsylvania in the United 
States Senate, was her grandfather. Her father established the 
Harrisburg Bank and was its first President. A large part of her 
early life was spent in the Maclay house, now the Harrisburg Acad- 
emy property and the residence of Professor Jacob F. Seiler. Her 
father died when she was but nine years of age, in 1816. He then 
resided on the southeast corner of Second street and Cherry alley. 
After his death the family occupied the Maclay house until the death 
of Mrs. Wallace, in 1823. The marriage of Mary E. Maclay and Rev. 
W. R. DeWitt took place in 1825, while she was residing with her 
great-uncle. Robert Harris, in the ancient Harris house on Front 
street, in later days the residence of the Honorable Simon Cameron. 

One of her brothers, Rev. Benjamin J. Wallace, rose to eminence 
in the Presbyterian Church as preacher and writer, and as editor for 
years of " The Presbyterian Review." He died at an early age. 

Mrs. DeWitt married at the age of eighteen, but her mind was 
already matured and peculiarly bright and strong. She entered at 
once and very heartily into the work of the church and until her 
death, fifty-six years later she was an honored and wise leader. For 
forty-two years in the ministry of her husband she was permitted to 
stand by his side, in the home, in society and in the church, and 
everywhere helpful and beloved. She was a woman of rare powers 
of mind, of wide information and admirable judgment. Her home 
acknowledged her beneficent sway. Society was charmed by her con- 
versational powers, her tact, her winning courtesy and intelligence 
In the church she was at the head of the religious and benevolent 
work undertaken by the women of the congregation. For about fifty 
years she was a faithful and uncommonly able teacher in the Sunday- 
school of the church. The female prayer-meeting of the church, 
established in her childhood, received her hearty co-operation and 
regular attendance for more than half a century. Those who were 
favored in hearing her voice in these meetings testify to her remark- 
able power in prayer. Few laymen in the church equalled her in 



368 



Centennial Memorial. 



power of expression, range of thought and fluency, joined to spiritual 
fervor and tenderness. She was surrounded through life by those 
who trusted, admired and loved her. She was calm in temperament, 
hopeful in spirit, broad in her charity and judicious in her utter- 
ances. Few have evinced so high, so tenacious and so courageous 
faith. Kind and liberal in her feelings and words toward all, she 
lived and died without enemies. Though suffering severely in her 
last days from physical pain, she retained all her faculties of mind 
unimpaired. Her trust in God, her composure of spirit and her love 
towards others never failed her. Death found her peaceful and 
serene and could not disturb her repose in God. A very precious 
memory survives her in the city and in the church where the greater 
part of her life was spent. 



REV. THOMAS HASTINGS ROBINSON, D. I). 

Pastor 1854-1884. 



By the Editor. 



Thomas Hastings Robinson, son of William Andrew Robinson and 
Nancy Cochrane was born January 30, 1828, in the township of North 
East, Erie county, Pennsylvania. His ancestors were Scotch-Irish, 
those on the father's side having come to this country about 1730 and 
settled in Lancaster (now Dauphin county, Pennsylvania), near the 
Susquehanna, and those on the mother's side coming in 1802 and 
settling in Ripley, Chautauqua county, N. Y. Both families were 
from the region of Belfast, Ireland, and were from time to time 
immemorial Presbyterians in religious faith. Mr. Robinson received 
his early education in the common school, and in an academy at 
Ripley, N. Y. Subsequently he entered Oberlin College, Oberlin, 
O., 1846, and graduated from it in 1850. The vacations during his 
college course were spent in teaching, and for over a year after gradu- 
ation he was engaged in teaching a classical and English Academy 
at Ashtabula, O., and a normal school at Farrington, O. 

Having made a public confession of Christ during his college 
course, he determined to devote his life to the gospel ministry. In 
the winter of 1851-1852 he entered the Western Theological Semin- 
.ary, Allegheny, and completed its three year's course in May, 1854. 
He united with the Presbytery of Ohio, since divided into the Pres- 



A Century of Pastors. 



369 



byteries of Pittsburg and Allegheny, June 15th, 1854, and on the 
same day after an examination in his college and theological studies, 
was licensed to preach the gospel. His first sermon as a licentiate 
was delivered on June 20, 1854, in the First Presbyterian Church of 
Pittsburg, of which he was a member. 

Upon the last Sabbath in June, the 27th, 1854, and the first Sabbath 
in July, 1854, and on the Wednesday evening intervening he preached 
by invitation in the English Presbyterian congregation of Harris- 
burg, and on July 5th he was unanimously called to be colleague 
pastor of the church with Rev. William R. DeWitt, D. D. The 
call was accepted, and he came to Harrisburg early in the following 
October and took up the duties of his office. 

On October 17th he was received as a licentiate into the Presbytery 
of Harrisburg, and on January 21st, 1855, he was ordained and in- 
stalled as co-pastor over this church. For the first ten years of the 
co-pastorate Dr. DeWitt continued to preach occasionally. In 1864 
he resigned all the active duties of the pastorate, and now Mr. 
Robinson continued to serve as pastor until the relationship was dis- 
solved by the Presbytery of Carlisle, to take effect on the first Sab- 
bath of June, 1884. He continued to fill the pulpit until the last 
Sabbath in June, the thirtieth anniversary of his first sermon to 
the congregation, when he preached his farewell discourse. 

In November, 1883, he was called by the directors of the West- 
ern Theological Seminary to the Re-Union Professorship of Sacred 
Rhetoric, Church Government and Pastoral Theology. After several 
months of consideration he accepted the call, but was unable to enter 
upon the duties of the Seminary until January. 1885. This position 
he still holds. 

His residence at Harrisburg for thirty years called him to many 
duties outside those of his pastorate. He was for many years a trustee 
of the Harrisburg Academy and of Wilson Female College at Cham- 
bersburg, from 1875 to 1887, a trustee of Princeton College ; from 
1875 to 1884 a director of the Western Theological Seminary, and for 
some years past has been a trustee of Washington and Jefferson Col- 
lege and of Pennsylvania Female College. 

He was the moderator of the Synod of Pennsylvania (N. S.) in 1861, 
and at the reunion of the churches in 1870 was made the stated clerk 
of the Synod of Harrisburg, and held the office until the consolida- 
tion of the four Synods in Pennsylvania into the single Synod of 
Pennsylvania, when he was chosen to the same office in that body, 
and continued in it until he entered upon the duties of. his professor- 
ship, when he resigned, having held the office fourteen years. 

During the war he was a member of the Christian Commission, 



370 



Centennial Memorial. 



directing its work in Central Pennsylvania, and serving- in its behalf 
for two or three months in Virginia and Tennessee. 

In 1868 he was given the honorary title of Doctor of Divinity by 
Hamilton College, New York. 

He was a member of the Assemblies (N. S.) of 1858 and 1866, and 
of the reunited Assemblies of 1873, 1882 and 1892. And was a dele- 
gate to the Alliance of the Reformed Churches holding the Presby- 
terian system that met in London in 1875 and in 1889. 

On May 10th, 1856, he married Mary Wolf Buehler, daughter 
of Henry Buehler and Anna Margaretta Wolf. Their children are 
Henry Buehler, who died in infancy ; Anna Margaretta, who died 
December 23, 1881, in her twenty-third year ; William Andrew, Pro- 
fessor of the Greek Language in Lehigh University : Eliza McCor- 
mick, wife of George R. Fleming, Esq.; Edward Orth, Thomas 
Hastings, Jr., and Mary Buehler, the last three being still members 
of their father's household in Allegheny. 

During his pastorate he became greatly endeared to his congrega- 
tion, and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the whole community. 
The action taken by the Church a short time prior to his resignation 
is illustrative of the strong hold he had upon the affection and confi- 
dence of this people throughout his long and useful ministry here. 
When it became known that he was considering a call from the 
Western Theological Seminary to a professorship in that institution, 
a meeting of the congregation was held on Wednesday evening, 
November 28th, 1883, to consider the matter. 

Mr. Charles L. Bailey was elected chairman, and Mr. Alex. Roberts 
secretary. On motion of Mr. Samuel J. M McCarrell, a committee 
of five, consisting of Messrs. M. W. McAlarney, Henry Gilbert, Adam 
K. Fahnestock, James Fletcher and John C. Harvey, were appointed 
to prepare a letter expressive of the feelings of the congregation, 
which committee reported the following : 

Harrisburg, November 28, 1883. 
To Rev. Thomas H. Robinson, D. D. 

Very Dear Sir : The congregation of the Market Square Pres- 
byterian church, having heard with unfeigned regret of your call to a 
professorship in the Western Theological Seminary, hereby expresses 
its gratitude to you for your long, faithful, efficient and sympathetic 
pastoral service, as also its unanimous and earnest desire that you 
shall not accept the new position tendered you, nor ask a dissolution 
of the pastoral relation with us. While we are not insensible to the 
honor which your call to this professorship bears with it, we feel 
that we must protest against its acceptance for many reasons, among 
which are the following : 



A Century of Pastors. 



371 



1. Your long and efficient pastorate, your unswerving fidelity and 
boldness as an ambassador of Christ, have given you a commanding 
influence in your city, your Presbytery, your State, which influence 
the cause of Presbyterianism demands, shall not be removed from its 
pulpit and active pastoral work. 

2. Your church is united and prosperous under your pastorate and 
your labors here have been followed by a continual stream of blessed 
influence and result, and have been frequently and but recently 
crowned with marked tokens of Divine approval. 

3. Your whole ministerial life has been spent with us ; you have 
broken to us the bread of life for more than a quarter of a century ; 
you have been at our homes in seasons of joy and sorrow; you have 
solemnized our marriages ; you have wept with us at the graves of 
our loved ones ; and we most earnestly ask that the tender ties thus 
binding us together shall not be severed. 

4. No other man can fill your place among us as acceptably as your- 
self and we do not wish to take the hazard of divisions, bickerings 
and strife in seeking another to occupy your pulpit and assume your 
work in this church, so dear to you and ourselves. In the light of 
these and many other reasons which we might urge, we earnestly re- 
quest that you remain with us. 

And in testimony of our gratitude and unwavering affection for 
you as our pastor, we cause this letter to be subscribed by the chair- 
man and secretary of this congregational meeting, and by the com- 
mittee appointed to present a paper expressive of our views upon the 
subject for the consideration of which this meeting was called. 

The letter was unanimously adopted, the meeting adjourned, and 
the congregation proceeded in a body to the house of their much 
loved pastor, where the letter was read to him. Dr. Robinson, in re- 
plying, said that this call had been a source of much grief to him ; 
that his whole life had been spent in this city, and that here he had 
hoped to end his days ; that he loved the people, and that the friend- 
ships formed here could never be broken this side of the grave. But 
he proceeded to say that, as yet, he had not determined which path 
duty required him to follow — to go or to stay, and that he had until 
the first of the year to decide, and in the meantime he could only 
hope and pray that the Lord would enable him to decide as his heart 
now prompted. 

When, a few months later Dr. Robinson requested Presbytery to 
dissolve the pastoral relation, the congregation made a strenuous 
protest against granting the request. Though he has been absent 
from the Church and city for ten years, yet he is still cherished with 
the sincerest affection in the hearts of the people, and is always 
greeted upon any of his frequent visits with true cordiality. 



372 



Centennial Memorial. 



His wise leadership, unsparing- activity, spotless character, left 
their impress upon the Church and made it the strong, broad, gen- 
erous, aggressive church it is to day. 

He was always in sympathy with all movements that were evidently 
in the interest of progress, an avowed friend to the temperance re- 
form, though not a political prohibitionist, and a courageous leader 
in every good cause. As t; a conservative-radical," so he speaks of 
himself, he directed the life of the Church into channels of the 
largest usefulness and most permanent development. 



A CEHTITB Y OF ELD EES. 



By Rev. Thomas H. Robinson, D. D. 



The history of " The English Presbyterian Congregation," of Har- 
risburg, which celebrated its centenary February ll-16th, 1894, would 
be incomplete without the following sketches of the Ruling Elders, 
now deceased, who were connected with it during the hundred years 
and helped so largely in giving it its character and power. For a 
portion of the facts contained in these sketches we are indebted to 
the able and accomplished Dr. William H. Egle, State Librarian, and 
author of a number of very valuable historical publications. 

The first Board of Ruling Elders in the Church was composed of 
the following persons : Samuel Weir, Moses Gillmor, Adam Boyd. 

They were elected to office on February 11, 1794, and on the follow- 
ing Sabbath, February 16th, they were ordained and installed, each 
of them holding office until his death. 

SAMUEL WEIR. 
Born September 29, 1744. 
Died August 15, 1814. 

Samuel Weir, the eldest son of James Weir, was born near Bally- 
mony, County Antrim, Ireland. His ancestry was numbered among 
the heroic defenders of Derry during the famous seige of 1689-1690, 
by King James, when almost incredible hardships were endured in 
the cause of Protestantism and freedom of faith. Heir-looms of that 
memorable time are still held in the family and are greatly prized. 
Samuel Weir came to America in 1775, and located in the township 
of Derry, Lancaster county, now Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. The 
Revolutionary war had already opened at Lexington, and British 
ships of war were scouring the seas, searching for, seizing and im- 
pressing British subjects whenever found. The vessel on which Mr. 
Weir came was boarded and searched, but by a happy providence he 
escaped, and was saved from fighting against the country to which 
he was coming for larger liberties than he had found in the old world. 
A year had scarcely elapsed before he was in the army of the Revo- 
lution, defending his adopted country. In 1776 and 1777 he was a 
First Lieutenant in Col. JohnRodgers' battalion (eighth) of Lancaster 



374 



Centennial Memorial. 



County Associators, rendering important service. He served under 
General Washington, at the crossing of the Delaware, at Trenton, 
Princeton, Brandy wine and Germantown. At the close of the war 
he removed to a farm he had purchased near Harrisburg, but shortly 
after, in 1787, he became a merchant in the town, and one of the most 
prominent business men of the borough. He assisted in the organiza- 
tion of the Presbyterian church in 1794, and was chosen one of its first 
Ruling Elders. In person he was of stout, heavy build, strong and 
muscular. In civil life he was a man of probity and honor. In the 
Church he was very active, greatly devoted to its interests and the 
recipient of its esteem and love. He was noted for his large and gen- 
erous hospitality to the ministry of his day, making his house their 
home as guests. He was twice married. By his first wife he had a 
son named James, who died young, and by his second wife, Mary 
Wallace, he had three sons, Samuel, who removed to South Carolina, 
John Andrew and James Wallace, both of whom succeeded him in 
the Eldership. He died in the seventieth year of his age, and in 
the twentieth of his office, as Elder. 

MOSES GILLMOR. 
Born, September 6, 1749. 
Died, June 10, 1825. 

Moses Gillmor was born in the township of Burt, parish of Temple- 
more, county of Donegal, six miles from the city of Londonderry, 
province of Ulster, Ireland. Until his seventeenth year he remained 
in Ireland, when he came with an uncle to America, and settled in 
Hanover township, Lancaster county, now Dauphin. Having re- 
turned to Ireland on business connected with his father's estate, the 
war of the Revolution broke out during his absence and delayed his 
return until after the declaration of peace in 1783. The next year, 
November 1784, according to Parson Elder's marriage record, he 
married Isabel Wallace, third daughter of Robert and Mary Wallace, 
of Hanover. When, in 1785, Harrisburg was made the county seat 
of the new county, Dauphin, Mr. Gillmor removed hither, purchased 
a lot on Market Square, and established himself in the business of a 
merchant, which he carried on successfully for a number of years. 
He was prominent in local politics and an influential member of 
society. He was one of the founders of the Presbyterian Church, 
and is said to have been an elder in the Mother Church of Paxtang. 
Mr. Gillmor died in Harrisburg in 1825, after serving the church for 
thirty-one years, having reached the age of seventy-six. His body, 
and that of his wife, who died three years later, were buried in 



A Century of Elders. 



375 



Paxtang Church grave-yard. The older members of the church gave 
descriptions of him to the writer, as he was before age had bent his 
form or impeded the elasticity of his step. He was a man of fine 
personal appearance, tall and well-proportioned, grave and dignified, 
and wore, as was customary with gentlemen of his standing in society, 
the cue, cocked hat, short breeches and silver-buckled shoes of that 
earlier generation. He was a man of stately bearing and courtly 
manners, and his tall, manly form clothed in the dress peculiar to 
" gentlemen of the old school," would command involuntary respect. 
He was a most worthy citizen and a man of sterling integrity, sin- 
cere, incorruptible and straight-forward in all his dealings. In 
Christian character he was decidedly old style, and would be regarded 
in this easier age as severe and cold and Puritanic ; but in his rever- 
ent and high-toned piety there was a substantial solidity that might 
bless these modern times were it more frequent. He died revered 
by all. 

ADAM BOYD. 
Born, , 1746. 

Died, May 14, 1814. 

Mr. Boyd was the son of John Boyd and Elizabeth Young, and was 
a native of Northampton county, Pennsylvania. He was of Scotch 
descent, his grandfather, John Boyd, having been born in or near 
Edinburgh in 1690. He was one of the earliest settlers in the so-called 
" Irish Settlement." By occupation, he was a carpenter. He was in 
the prime of early manhood when the war of the Revolution opened, 
and entered into the service with patriotic ardor. He was an early 
associator, and received a commission in the Pennsylvania Navy, and 
was in the conflict between that fleet and the British ships in May, 
1776. He was subsequently transferred from the navy to the army, 
served through four campaigns and participated in the battles of 
Brandywine and Germantown and Princeton as an officer. At the 
close of his military career he held the place of chief of transporta- 
tion. He removed to Harrisburg in 1783, and made it his permanent 
home. Mr. Boyd bore a high reputation among his fellow-citizens, 
and was often chosen by them to positions of public trust and honor, 
serving as the presiding officer of the first town council, as County 
Treasurer for many years, as County Commissioner, and a Director 
of the Poor. He was honored with office by the people as long as he 
would accept it. He was a man of fine abilities and literary taste, 
decided in his opinions, industrious in habits, and of strictest in- 
tegrity. In person he was stoutly built, of blue eyes, sandy hair and 
fair complexion, genial in countenance and courteous in bearing. As 



376 



Centennial Memorial. 



an officer of the Church he was greatly esteemed and beloved, enjoy- 
ing the confidence of all. His death occurred in the sixty-eighth 
year of his age and the twenty-first of his Eldership. He left at 
death one daughter, Mrs. Rosanna Boyd Hamilton, wife of Hugh 
Hamilton. A grandson, Mr. A. Boyd Hamilton, still survives in 
honored and useful age. 

At some unknown period between the years 1808-1812 probably, the 
following persons were added to the church Session : John Stoner, 
William Graydon. No record remains to fix the date of their election 
and induction into office. 

JOHN STONER. 
Born, March 24, 1748. 
Died March 24, 1825. 

John Stoner was the son of Jacob Stoner and Juliana Baker, and 
was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. His father was a native 
of the city of Berne, Switzerland. His mother was a native of Hol- 
land. Fleeing from persecutions abroad they came to this country and 
settled in Lancaster county in the early part of the last century. 
John was the youngest child of the family, and was educated in Phila- 
delphia. Returning home, he remained there until the death of his 
father, which occurred a short time before the breaking out of the 
Revolutionary war, when he removed to a farm he had purchased on 
the Susquehanna, about three miles above Harrisburg. Shortly after 
the opening of the war he sold his farm and raised a company for 
service, of which he was elected and commissioned first lieutenant. 
Most of the expenses of equipping the company and of its term of 
service was borne out of his own purse. The company belonged to 
the second battalion of the Pennsylvania Rifle Regiment, commanded 
by Colonel Miles. Mr. Stoner's first commission was dated March 15, 
1776. He was promoted captain December 4, 1776, and transferred to 
the Tenth Pennsylvania Regiment of the line. He resigned, on ac- 
count of ill health, on November 22, 1777. He was a hearty and 
thorough patriot, ready for any sacrifices. 

After leaving the army he took up his residence in Harrisburg, 
where he married the widow of Thomas Murray. Her maiden name 
was Mary Berryhill. The two families of Murray and Berryhill were 
prominent in the early history of the church. He was an active citi- 
zen in the new town, taking a prominent part in civil affairs. He 
was chosen an Elder at an advanced age, probably not less than sixty 
years, and held the office between fifteen and twenty years, dying at 
the age of seventy-seven. 



A Century of Elders. 



377 



Captain Sterner sustained the reputation of being an honest, sincere 
and hearty Christian ; a man of very kind and affectionate disposi- 
tion, and of much and earnest prayer. He served Christ in humility 
and faithfulness, died a peaceful and happy death, departing to the 
"Rest" of the children of God. Mr. Stoner was the third of the 
earliest Elders of the church who were officers in the Army of the 
Revolution. 

WILLIAM GRAYDON. 
Born, Sept. 4, 1759. 
Died, Oct. 13, 1840. 

William Graydon, the son of Alexander Graydon and Rachel Marks, 
was born near Bristol, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He spent his 
early life in Philadelphia, where he acquired a classical education, and 
studied law under Edward Biddle, Esq. He came to Harrisburg upon 
the organization of the county of Dauphin, and entered upon the 
practice of his profession, being admitted at the May term, 1786. He 
was the first notary public of the county, was a justice of the peace 
and a member of the town council for several years, the president of 
the council and one of the burgesses of the borough. He was the 
author of " Forms of Conveyancing " in two volumes, and edited "An 
Abridgment of the Laws of; the United States in 1802." Mr. Graydon 
was well educated and a man of cultivated literary tastes, and in the 
many trusts committed to him by his fellow citizens, he sustained a 
character of unblemished integrity. He was highly esteemed -as a 
gentleman of the old school in his manners, courteous and refined, of 
high and honorable principles, and in the church and the walks of 
Christian life a man of true piety and deep devotion. He filled the 
office of ruling elder between twenty-five and thirty years. Mr. G. 
W. Harris in his "Reminiscences of the Bar," says : " He was a man 
of medium height, of very gentlemanly manners, neat, if not precise, 
in dress, of dark, lively eyes and of an intelligent countenance. His 
portrait, painted by Francis, is in existence, and is an excellent re- 
presentation. He wore a cue tied with a ribbon and had his hair 
powdered." He was humane and benevolent, and an acknowledged 
leader in charitable enterprises. Of his children, one, Alexander 
Graydon, became an elder of this church some years prior to his 
father's death, and another, H. Murray Graydon, Esq., has been an 
elder in the Pine Street Presbyterian Church since its organization 
in 1858. A third, William Graydon, M. D., was for many years an 
elder in the Presbyterian Church of Dauphin, and now holds the same 
office in the Memorial Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, and a 



378 



Centennial Memorial. 



daughter, Rachel Graydon, was the wife of Hon. Mordecai McKinney, 
for many years an elder in this church. 

On Monday evening", February 7, 1820, the following persons were 
elected Ruling Elders of this church : Robert Sloan, Samuel Agnew, 
M. D., Joseph A. McJimsey. 

And on the 9th of April succeeding they were ordained, and in- 
stalled in office. 

ROBERT SLOAN. 
Born 17G9. 
Died Dec, 1833. 

Robert Sloan was born in Hanover township, Dauphin county (form- 
erly Lancaster), Penna. He was of Scotch-Irish descent, his ances- 
tors coming to America prior to 1736. His father, Robert Sloan, Sr., 
was an Elder in the Old Hanover Presbyterian church, one of the 
land marks of the Scotch-Irish settlement in Pennsylvania. His 
grandfather had also been a Ruling Elder, and as his son Alexander 
succeeded him, there is the record of four generations in direct line 
of Ruling Elders in the Presbyterian Church. The early years of Mr. 
Sloan's life were spent on the farm with his father, but manifesting 
a genius for mechanical pursuits, he left home, and without any ap- 
prenticeship, entered upon his life work, that of a cabinet-maker. 
On the 30th of March, 1799, he married Sarah McCormick, of Han- 
over, and soon after removed to the city of New York, and joined the 
Presbyterian Church, under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Milledollar. 
In the year 1812 he returned to Harrisburg, where he passed the re- 
mainder of his life. He was regarded as a very superior workman, 
a man of peculiar mechanical skill, and was most faithful and diligent 
in business. Mr. Sloan was eminently a good man, a Christian full of 
faith and prayer and good works, a man of singular modesty and up- 
rightness. He possessed the confidence of the community where he 
resided to an unbounded degree, and they who knew him intimately, 
had for him a regard that deepened into affection. He was a most 
faithful office-bearer, always at his post in the sanctuary and the 
meetings for social prayer. In the matter of prayer he was peculiarly 
gifted, being evidently taught of God and blessed with an unction 
from the Holy Ghost. 

He was a layman of wide and accurate theological knowledge. 
After the severe toils of the day he was wont, when not engaged in 
outdoor work for the Church, to spend his evenings in reading the 
standard Christian literature of the times, especially the sermons and 
other works of the old Puritan divines. The doctrines of the Pres- 



A Century of Elders. 



379 



byterian Church, as taught in her standards, he heartily embraced as 
the system of theology contained in the sacred Scriptures, and 
adhered to them through life with unwavering' fidelity. It may be 
said to his honor, that no man possessed more completely than 
Robert Sloan the confidence of the Church as a man of God, noble 
and blameless in his uprightness. He was of a thoroughly Christian 
and Presbyterian stock, for beside those of his line already mentioned 
as Ruling Elders, a brother served as an Elder in old Harover church, 
and another brother in the First Presbyterian church, of Williams- 
port, Pa. Mr. Sloan died at the age of sixty-four and in the thir- 
teenth year of his Eldership. 

SAMUEL AGNEW, M. D. 
Born 1777. 
Died Nov. 25, 1849. 

Samuel Agnew was the son of James Agnew and Mary Ramsey, and 
was born near Millerstown, Adams county, Pennsylvania. His 
parents were Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, being members of the 
Associate Reformed church. His father and three brothers, uncles 
of Samuel Agnew, were all elders at the same time, and tradition 
says in the same congregation. The father was also a soldier in the 
Revolutionary army and was wounded in one of the battles in New 
Jersey. The family was noted for intellectual culture, strength of 
mind and decided piety. 

Mr. Agnew was set apart by his mother for the ministry. Trained 
under the best of religious influences he became very early the sub- 
ject of divine grace. In the later years of his life, he stated, in 
answer to the question, "When were you converted?" ''I cannot 
tell. I cannot recall a period from my earliest childhood when I was 
not a child of God, with the experiences of a true Christian." 

He received a classical education, graduating from Dickinson Col- 
lege in 1798. On leaving college, greatly to the disappointment of his 
mother, he chose the profession of medicine, studied with Dr. Mc- 
Clellan, of Greencastle, and graduated from the University of Penn- 
sylvania in 1801. In college he was the classmate of two men who 
became distinguished in western Pennsylvania, Rev. Francis Herron, 
D. D., of Pittsburgh, and Rev. Matthew Brown, D. D., President of 
Jefferson College. 

Dr. Agnew first settled in the practice of his profession in Gettys- 
burg, remaining there for several years, and winning a large patron- 
age and the confidence of the people. While there he married Jane 
Grier, daughter of Major David Grier, of the Revolution, but in 



380 



Centennial Memorial. 



1804 he removed to Harrisburg, where he remained until 1835. 
While in Harrisburg he became distinguished in his profession by his 
" Treatise on the efficacy of kine pock inocolation as a preventive of 
the contagion of the small pox." He originated a plan for the gen- 
eral distribution of kine pock by the establishment of a lottery which 
proved to be successful. In the war of 1812, he was one of the first, 
perhaps the first officer, who offered his services, and that of a com- 
pany comprising the very best men of Harrisbarg, one hundred and 
twelve strong, to Governor Snyder. As there was no call for men 
the company disbanded in 1813. In March, 1835, Dr. Agnew left Har- 
burg and after a sojourn of a year at Lewistown, Pa., removed to 
Missouri, and while there became an elder in a Presbyterian Church. 
Meeting some reverses of fortune he remained but a few months, re- 
turned east, first to Pittsburgh, and thence to Philadelphia, where he 
remained but a year. In 1839, he went to Butler, Pa., where for 
eight years he resided with his daughter, the wife of Rev. John R. 
Agnew. Here he continued the practice of his profession, and by his 
skill, joined to his labors for the spiritual interests of the people, won 
the highest favor. He became, while there, an elder in the First 
Presbyterian Church and the Superintendent of the Sunday-school of 
the Church. The Pastor of the Church in that place thus speaks of 
him, "His memory is precious in Butler. Thanksgiving Day was 
almost turned into a day of mourning for us, as the news of his death 
had only reached us the day before." 

On the removal of his daughter to Greencasfcle, Pa., in the spring 
of 1847, Dr. Agnew accompanied the family and made his home there 
for two years. In 1849, while on his way to Temperanceville, a 
suburb of Pittsburgh, he was violently thrown from a packet boat into 
the canal and received injuries from which he did not recover, dying 
on Sabbath evening, November 25, 1849. 

Dr. Agnew was a ruling elder in the Church at Harrisburg for 
fifteen years. Few laymen have been better fitted by natural talents, 
by education, by personal character, and by public position, than Dr. 
Agnew for a wide and permanent influence of the best and highest 
kind over their fellowmen. He was a man of notable qualities. In 
the eyes of the world he was one of the marked men of society. Both 
in social and professional life, as well as . in the church he was 
promptly accorded the place of a leader. Possessed of a sound, clear 
and vigorous mind, well disciplined and polished by a thorough course 
of collegiate and professional studies, a man of great activity, of fine 
bearing and of a refined courtesy that made his presence always wel- 
come, it was but natural that he should stand at the head of his pro- 
fession and exert in every sphere where he moved a controlling influ- 



A Century of Elders. 



381 



ence. He was a frequent contributor to the medical journals of his 
day, and was often called to make literary, scientific and religious 
addresses. Both as writer and speaker he displayed marked ability. 
Generous and kind hearted, charitable in his judgment, affable in his 
manners, uniformly cheerful and hopeful, he gained universal respect 
and friendship. As husband, father, and friend; as neighbor, profes- 
sional man, and citizen, he had the esteem and respect of all. 

But it was in the Church and as a Christian man he stood highest. 
He lived a life of steady, uniform and consistent, godliness, making* 
the service of God the great business of his life, seldom allowing any 
professional duties to interfere with his attendance on the public rites 
of religion or on his duties as an officer of the church. He was a man 
of public spirit, of broad charity and of a familiar acquaintance with 
the great religious enterprises of his day. The Sunday-school and 
tract societies, and temperance organizations of the time ; and all 
benevolent operations within and without the Church received his 
active and earnest support. The cause of Foreign Missions was 
especially dear to his heart. He was elected a corporate member of 
the great missionary organization, the American Board of Commis- 
sioners for Foreign Missions and attended its annual meetings as long 
as age would permit, His religious life was peculiarly marked. The 
testimony is very strong to his unquestionable piety and devotion to 
the Saviour of men. In all his life shone forth the evidences of an 
abiding and unquenchable personal love of Jesus Christ as his Friend 
and Saviour. In the midst of great trials, involved through others in 
pecuniary difficulties, reduced to extreme poverty, compelled in old 
age to struggle for earthly maintenance, he still was strong in faith, 
giving glory to God. His fervor, his child-like confidence, his warm 
evangelical spirit, his holy importunity and his scripturalness in 
public prayers made his presence most welcome in the meetings of 
believers. And when at length eternity dawned upon him the serene 
and calm repose of his heart on God was not at all disturbed. His 
departure from earth was as calm and hopeful and beautiful as the 
clear setting of the sun when the day is done. Seldom has the mem- 
ory of a man been more precious to his fellowmen than that of Dr. 
Samuel Agnew. 

JOSEPH A. McJIMSEY. 
Born December 16, 1780. 
Died September 20, 1821. 

Mr. Mc Jimsey was born in Chester county, Pa. But few records or 
traditions of him can be found. He was of Scotch-Irish descent, was 
educated at an academy in Philadelphia, learned surveying, and for 



382 



Centennial Memorial. 



several years filled a clerical position in that city. He was a popular 
citizen and a man of public affairs and had an established reputation 
as upright aud honest, a man of integrity and wisdom. He was 
elected clerk of the State Senate in Lancaster in 1809, and when the 
State Capital was removed to Harrisburg, he continued to serve in 
that body until his death. Within a year and a half after his election 
to the eldership in this church he departed this life in the forty-first 
year of his age. He is said to have been a man of excellent Christian 
character, a good, exemplary man. The late Mr. John A. Weir who 
knew him in his own youth spoke very highly of him. 

At an election held in the church, August 17, 1825, the following 
persons were chosen Ruling Elders : John Neilson, Richard T. Leech, 
John C. Capp. 

They were ordained and inducted into office September 11, 1825. 

JOHN NEILSON, 
Born June 16, 1780, 
Died March 10, 1856. 

John Neilson, son of Robert Neilson, of Scotch descent, was born 
in New Castle county, Delaware. His parents died in his early life, 
and in his youth he resided with relatives at Wilmington, Delaware. 
After his marriage, he settled in Middletown, Pa., and filled for some 
years the office of cashier of the Swatara bank. Upon the removal of 
the bank to Harrisburg in 1815, Mr. Neilson came with it, and held 
his office until the bank was closed. Subsequently he was appointed 
Cashier of the State Treasury and held the position for twenty-one 
years. He was a faithful officer, rendering most faithful service with 
complete fidelity to the State and great honor to himself. He was a 
man of gentlemanly manners, of pleasant, fair countenance and of 
quiet and an unobtrusive life. He continued to serve the church 
until the latter part of the year 1838. The closing years of his life 
were spent in Baltimore, where he died March 10, 1856, in the 
seventy-sixth year of his age. 

RICHARD TREAT LEECH. 
Born October 3, 1775. 
Died August 26, 1850. 

Mr. Leech was born at Cheltenham, Montgomery county, Pennsyl- 
vania. He was of English descent, his paternal ancestors having 
emigrated from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, in 1682. 
Purchasing a tract of land in the Province of Pennsylvania from 



A Century of Elders. 383 

William Penn, they settled upon it and gave it the name of their old 
English home. Four generations possessed the land, and the bodies 
of these ancestors of Mr. Leech lie buried in the old church yard at 
Abingdon, Pa Richard Treat Leech was so named in honor of his 
step grandfather, Richard Treat, one of the early professors of 
Princeton College, New Jersey. His opportunities for education were 
only such as were furnished by the schools of his neighborhood, 
though he subsequently became known as a man of extensive general 
knowledge and a writer and speaker of more than ordinary power. 
In the year 1809-1810 he was elected to the Legislature of the State, 
then sitting at Lancaster. Here he married Miss Eva Henrietta 
Steinman, of Lancaster. 

Returning to his home he remained there until called to Harris- 
burg by Gov. Simon Snyder, in 1813, to fill the office of Surveyor Gen- 
eral of the State. He was re-appointed to the same office by Gov. 
Snyder in 1815. During the war of 1812-1814 Mr. Leech, with every 
clerk in his office except one, joined the army. The regiment to 
which they were attached lay at York, Pa., for some weeks, but was 
not called into action, further than a march to Baltimore. He was a 
member of Captain Richard M. Crain's company, of Colonel Ken- 
nedy's regiment. In this company served five of the subsequent 
Trustees of this church : Capt. R. M. Crain, First Sergeant Alex. M. 
Piper, Third Sargeant James R. Boyd and Privates R. T. Leech and 
Alex. Graydon, Jr. Messrs. Leech and Graydon were also subse- 
quently Elders in the Church. In the ranks with these men served 
other members of the congregation : Francis R. Shunk, William S. 
Findlay, Dr. Luther Reily and others. After the expiration of his 
term of office as Surveyor General, in 1818, he went to Pittsburgh, 
and engaged in mercantile pursuits, but returned to the State capital 
in 1821. In 1825 he was chosen a Ruling Elder in this church and 
continued to serve it faithfully till 1837, when he again removed to 
Pittsburgh, where he died August 26, 1850, in the seventy-fifth year 
of his age, having filled the office for twelve years. 

In personal appearance, Mr. Leech was tall and slender, fair in 
complexion, with bright blue eyes, benign in their expression. His 
manners were courteous and attractive. He was a man of fine abili- 
ties and of very firm and decided character. For the many years in 
which he occupied public position at the capital of the State, he bore 
an unstained reputation. In all his official relations he was greatly 
esteemed. He was an ardent lover of his country, and in a letter 
written by him when he was in the army he expresses his readiness 
to die in defence of his native land and her liberties. The course of 
public events was watched by him with the deep and jealous interest 



384 



Centennial Memorial. 



of a thorough christian patriot, and every violation of true principle 
in the conduct of civil and national affairs gave him pain as a blow 
struck at the life of a dear friend. 

In social life he was an example of urbane manners, of warm and 
generous friendship and of generous hospitality. In the Church he 
stood high as a counsellor, and a faithful member and officer. He is 
said to have been uncommonly gifted both in the spirit of prayer and 
in the fluency and elegance of his language. He loved the kingdom 
of Christ, and gave to its welfare, his toils and prayers and cares. He 
was generous in' the support of its ministry and of its various benev- 
olent agencies. Lowly in spirit, sympathizing and faithful, he left 
behind him in the Church, after a service of twelve years as an 
elder, the fragrant memory of a noble character and a good and useful 
life. 

JOHN CHARLES CAPP, 
Born 1800, 
Died March 3, 1876. 

Mr. Capp was the son of John Capp and Catharine Chamberlain, 
and was born in Philadelphia. He was of German descent. His 
father was for many years a justice of the peace and was a man of 
great integrity of character. The son was educated in Philadelphia 
and brought up in mercantile pursuits, but came to Harrisburg while 
yet a youth. He was a member of the Sunday-school of this church 
in its earliest history and a teacher in it as early as 1817, when but a 
boy of seventeen. He united with the church in 1820 and was looked 
upon as a model young man of large promise, Such was his activity 
and zeal in the religious life and so great was the confidence of the 
church in his piety and good judgment that he was chosen an Elder 
in the twenty-fifth year of his age. His subsequent history fully con- 
firmed the act of the church as a wise one, Mr. Capp proved to be a 
most worthy man and valuable church officer. He was ready for all 
labors, active in duties, earnest in prayer, self-sacrificing and con- 
sistent in all his life, winning for himself the esteem of the church, 
and especially gaining the confidence of the youth of the congrega- 
tion over whom he exerted the most happy influence. Very few of 
the Elders of the Church have been more beloved, more regretted in 
their departure, or have left a more enviable memory than John C. 
Capp. After a brief eldership of six years he removed to Philadel- 
phia. From 1837 to his death in 1876, thirty-nine years, he served as 
an Elder in the Central Presbyterian Church. In 1829 he married 
Sarah Singer of Philadelphia. One of his sons, Rev. Edward Payson 



A Century of Elders. 



385 



Capp, went as a missionary to China, and died at Yokohama, Oct. 20, 
1873. Two of his sons reside in San Francisco. A fourth, the young- 
est, Dr. William M. Capp, is a physician of prominence in Phila- 
delphia. 

On October 6, 1834, the following persons, James Wallace Weir, 
Alexander Graydon, Alexander Sloan, were chosen Ruling Elders, 
and on Sabbath morning October 19, 1834, they were ordained and 
installed. 

ALEXANDER GRAYDON, 
Born September 18, 1791, 
Died December 12, 1868. 

Alexander Graydon, eldest son of William Graydon, an Elder of 
this Church, and Rachel Marks was born in Harrisburg. He was 
educated at the Harrisburg Academy, entered the hardware trade, 
and for many years conducted a successful business. He was chosen 
an Elder in 1834, and served the Church faithfully until his removal 
to Indianapolis, in 1844. At Indianapolis he became an honored 
Elder in the Fourth Presbyterian church of that city, holding the 
office until his death in 1868. 

Mr. Graydon bore an enviable character as an earnest Christian 
worker, a man fearless in the discharge of whatever he deemed to be 
a duty, even at the cost of reproaches and pecuniary sacrifice. He 
was early known, as was his brother Elder and life-long friend, James 
Weir, as a warm friend of the oppressed, at a time when the anti- 
slavery movement was u popular and obnoxious in the State, and a 
heresy in the Church. To be an Abolitionist and a friend of the 
down-trodden black man was a crime in the eyes of the great major- 
ity, and exposed a man to many social trials and insults, often inter- 
fering with his business and church relations, and sundering the ties 
of friendship. Mr. Graydon was unflinching and fearless in main- 
taining the equal rights of all men of every color and nation. He 
was honorable and fair in business, faithful to his vows as an office- 
bearer in the Church, studious of the highest interests of the cause 
of Christ, and was trusted by all as a true man, a servant of God, and 
a lover of human kind. The men of this generation can scarcely, 
imagine the amount of opprobrium that was heaped in those earlier 
days upon the reformer of the political and social evils that had 
become entrenched and strong and invested with legal rights and 
moral respectability. In his new home and long residence at Indian- 
apolis Mr. Graydon continued to be revered and honored by good 
men for his sterling Christian principles and his firm and conscien- 



386 



Centennial Memorial. 



tious conviction of duty towards God and man. In the good provi- 
dence of God his useful life was spared until after the close of the 
war, when he had the joy of seeing that he was on the winning side 
in the great conflict of righteousness with wrong. 

JAMES WALLACE WEIR. 
Born August 9, 1805. 
Died March 14, 1878. 

James Wallace Weir, the youngest son of Samuel Weir and Mary 
Wallace was born at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The father was one 
of the triumvirate that formed the first Board of Ruling Elders in 
"the English Presbyterian Church" of Harrisburg, and was of the 
sturdy Scotch-Irish people. Mary Wallace was of the same origin, 
and grandsires on both sides, Weir and Wallace, fought side by side 
in the gallant defense of Derry against King James, 1689-1690. 
From such an ancestry Mr. Weir inherited a mind, strong in natural 
faculties, keen in its search for truth, and a will strong and positive. 
He and his older brothers were brought up on the Bible and on the 
catechisms and the confession that were brought hither from the 
mother county. The home of his childhood and youth was one where 
serious religious earnestness was commingled with household love 
and care. Mr. Weir showed while a mere youth the effects of home 
training in his mental powers, in the rapid mastery of his studies and 
in his taste for the most solid and substantial literature of the day. 
Before the age of seventeen he was a fluent writer for the press, was 
well read in the natural sciences, indulged in the calculation of 
eclipses and made astronomical drawings of a high order. His love 
of study and reading drew him toward the printing office. He became 
journeyman printer in the office of John S. Wiestling and a con- 
tributor to the paper published by him. After his apprenticeship he 
spent some time in the printing office of Messrs. Johnson, Philadel- 
phia. While there his righteous soul was greatly stirred by an event 
that he witnessed and that aroused great feeling — the mobbing of 
some anti-slavery men and the burning of the hall where they had 
met. The scene confirmed him in his hatred of human slavery. 

On the 26th of November, 1833, having been chosen teller in the 
Harrisburg Bank he accepted the position and held it until October 
30, 1844, when he was chosen its cashier. When the institution 
became a National bank in 1874 he was unanimously elected its 
cashier and held the office until his death, having been an officer in 
the bank for over forty-four years. As a bank officer and financier 
he gained an enviable distinction for his uniform courtesy, for his 



A Century of Elders. 



387 



unimpeachable integrity and for ability of the highest order. Few 
bankers in the Commonwealth or the country have left a record 
equal to his in years of service, in successful administration of affairs 
in periods of financial disaster, and for such rigid honesty. Through 
nearly half a century he handled millions of money and by no single 
act of his ever stirred the faintest suspicion against the purity of his 
dealings. 

But not alone as a banker was he distinguished. As a man among 
brother-men he won universal confidence. Men felt that they knew 
him he was so transparently unselfish, reliable and sympathetic. 

He was gifted with rare social qualities, and a graceful wit, with a 
rare knowledge of men and books, and the events of his time, with 
refinement of manners, which gave a charm to his home and his 
presence, not often met in men of business. This kindly, social 
nature, moulded by divine grace made him foremost in the reform- 
atory, benevolent and religious movements of his time. The poor 
and the lowly, the tempted, the fallen, the enslaved, found him ready 
with love and pity for their woes, and with a hand to help them out 
of their sins into manliness and Christliness. 

His literary taste and ability were of a high order. He wrote for 
the secular and the religious press, was a contributor to the Theolog- 
ical Review of his own denomination, was a compiler and a graceful 
and facile writer of hymns, the writer of several religious tracts and 
Sunday-school papers of value, and the author of two volumes of 
prayers, that have passed through several editions. For over forty- 
three years he was a Ruling Elder in active and devoted service in 
this Church, and a superintendent of its Sunday-school for forty-three 
years. He was a life director of the American Board of Commission- 
ers for Foreign Missions for nearly twenty years, and his wise and 
prudent counsel was sought there, and in the higher courts of his 
own Church and in numerous public conventions. His conversion to 
God was a remarkable one, and his subsequent Christian life was 
characterized from its beginning to his death by the elevating power 
of Christian principle and religious faith. He was above all things 
else a Christian. It moulded all his life. He felt the awe of God 
upon his soul, the loving awe of an earthly child to a Father infinite- 
ly holy and unmeasureably good. His Christian life was steady and 
even and strong as the stars in their courses. He was a close and 
loving student of God's word and his wonderful prayers at his home 
altar and in the church were models in their rich quotations of Bible 
language. 

For more than thirty years he was a constant sufferer, often from 
very severe pains, but under them all was one of the brightest and 



388 



Centennial Memorial. 



most cheerful of men, helping others by his buoyant spirit. He was 
a man of uncommon beneficence, giving- for years half his income, and 
often much more to charitable and religious purposes. He was a 
large believer in the things divine and eternal. He walked by them. 
He lived among them. They were to him the sublimely real things. 
He had a firm grasp on things that other men were groping after. 
And so his life was a steady, triumphant victory. 

This church was peculiarly dear to him. Upon it he bestowed his 
affections, his solicitude, his labors, his gifts. To its welfare he con- 
secrated all the years of his rich Christian life and powers. More 
than any other man he moulded its character and inspired its work. 

Mr. Weir was most happily married to one who for twenty-seven 
years joined him in church labors and presided over his home with 
engaging manners and a beautiful piety, Hannah A. (Fahnestock) 
Mahany, a sister of Mrs. John A. Weir. Her death preceded his, 
and with his departure the household became extinct. 

ALEXANDER SLOAN. 
Born October 9, 1802. 
Died August 2, 1890. 

Alexander Sloan was the son of Robert Sloan and Sarah McCor- 
mick, and was born at Harrisburg. His father was one of the early 
Elders of the Church. The son was educated in the select and private 
schools of Harrisburg, especially under Mr. James Maginness, who 
was well known as an eminent mathematician. He learned the trade 
of cabinet maker with his father, and after his death conducted the 
business alone up to 1864, and from that date for several years with 
Messrs Boyd. He was chosen an Elder of the Church in 1834, and for 
a period of fifty-six years continued to serve in that capacity. Mr. 
Sloan, though a quiet and modest man, was very well known in the 
city where he had spent eighty-eight years, and wherever known 
there was unvarying testimony to his virtues. He faithfully and 
most acceptably for more than half a century, discharged the duties 
of a Ruling Elder, giving a loving and efficient service. He loved the 
" gates of Zion " and was seldom absent from the Sabbath or week- 
day services. Mr. Sloan was characterized by his kindness of judg- 
ment and of speech concerning all his fellow-men. He was genial 
and warm-hearted, ready to forgive and slow to wound by word or 
deed. He lived and walked among men with a warm and brotherly 
heart, esteemed by all, and leaving behind him the record of a con- 
sistent and unblemished life. No word of reproach assailed his long 



A Century of Elders. 



389 



and useful life. At peace with all men, at peace with God, and in 
comfortable hope of a blessed immorality he passed his declining 
years in quiet happiness. He was the last in the line of a band of 
remarkable man who were spiritual officers in the Church, entering 
into its service in the first half century of its existence. He served 
in the Session with twenty-two of the Elders of this Church and was 
beloved by them all, for his genial brotherly traits of character, his 
wise counsel and upright life. Mr. Sloan married, September 19, 
1833, Mary Todd, daughter of James and Sarah Todd, of Han- 
over. Two of her brothers were worthy and acceptable ministers of 
the Gospel. Of his children but one remains, Sarah, the wife of H. 
Murray Graydon, Esq., of this city. 

On November 5. 1840, the following persons were elected Ruling 
Elders in this church : Samuel Wallace Hays, Alfred Armstrong. 
They were ordained and installed on the first Sabbath of December, 
1840. 

SAMUEL WALLACE HAYS. 
Born October 30, 1799. 
Died May 18, 1855. 

Mr. Hays, as with nearly all the Elders of this church, was of Scotch- 
Irish ancestry. Some of the family received honorable notice for 
bravery in the patriotic wars of the mother land. His grand-parents 
came hither in 1789. In the year 1819 Mr. Hays connected himself 
with the First Presbyterian Church of Carlisle. In 1821 he removed 
to Harrisburg, where he resided until 1825, when he went to Phila- 
delphia and spent three years, returning to Harrisburg in 1828 and 
taking up a residence here. His permanent connection with this 
church dates from that time. He began business here and carried it 
on successfully through the rest of his active life. Mr. Hays from 
the date of his confession of Christ was an active and earnest disciple 
of his Master. When in Philadelphia, and still a young man, he 
taught a class of young men in a mission Sunday-school connected 
with Rev. Dr. Janeway's church. It was called "The Galilean 
Society." Before going to Philadelphia he and John C. Capp, a 
young man like himself, had charge of the first Sunday-school estab- 
lished among the colored people of this city. Upon his return to 
Harrisburg in 1828, he organized in October of that year, in connec- 
tion with this church the first infant Sunday school of Harrisburg, 
and continued to superintend it with great acceptance for nearly 
twenty-seven years. A few months before his death, failing health 
obliged him to give up his charge. He died in the fifty-sixth year of 



390 



Centennial Memorial. 



his age and the fifteenth of his eldership. For thirty-six years his 
life was full of Christian labors. He was a quiet and modest man, 
during - his last years a patient sufferer. He was a very warm friend 
and lover of the young, kind and happy in his intercourse and an 
amiable teacher. 

ALFRED ARMSTRONG. 
Born February 14, 1801. 
Died October 21, 1881. 

Alfred Armstrong, son of James Armstrong and Mary Stevenson, 
was born in Carlisle, Penna. He was a descendant of one of the oldest 
and most distinguished Scotch-Irish families of Cumberland Valley. 
His grandfather, Gen. John Armstrong, resided at Carlisle and was 
an able and brilliant leader of the colonial troops during the Indian 
wars of the last century, and the hero of the famous victory over the 
Indians at Kittanning in 1756. The county of Armstrong was so 
named in his honor. 

Mr. Armstrong was educated at Dickinson College, graduating 
from it in 1823. That institution was then a Presbyterian college, 
under the presidency of the celebrated Rev. Dr. John M. Mason, and 
was at the height of its usefulness and power. During the last year 
of his college life Mr. Armstrong and many others of his classmates 
and fellow-students were subjects of an extensive revival of religion — 
and made their confession of Christ, uniting with the First Presby- 
terian church, of Carlisle. Quite a large number of these young 
men subsequently entered the ministry and attained high positions of 
honor and usefulness in the Presbyterian Church. Among them may 
be mentioned : Rev. Drs. Geo. W. Bethune, Erskine Mason, J. 
Holmes Agnew, George A. Lyon, Daniel McKinley, J. Chamberlain, 
John M. Dickey and others. 

Mr. Armstrong's life was devoted almost entirely to the teaching of 
classical schools, for which he had a peculiar fitness, and met with 
large success. Several years were spent in the charge of an academy 
at Bellefonte. He came to Harrisburg in 1831 and assumed control 
of the Harrisburg academy, retaining it until 1846. Many young men 
were fitted for college and the professions under his tuition. A 
large number of the leading men of this city were among his pupils, 
and they regarded him with veneration and respect. His reputation 
as an educator was of high character, and his training was thorough. 

He united with this church at his coming in 1831, and on the first 
Sunday of December, 1840, he was ordained and installed in it as 
Ruling Elder. He continued to serve the church until his removal 
from the city in 1846. Returning to Harrisburg in 1862, he again 



A Century of Elders. 



391 



united with the church and was again chosen an Elder, and installed 
in office, 1868. He held the office, serving the church with great 
faithfulness, until 1871, when he removed to Washington city. There 
he resided until his death in October, 1884, in the eighty-fourth year 
of his age. While in Washington he held a position in the Post 
Office Department. 

Mr. Armstrong was thrice married. In 1829 to Mary Rankin, of 
Bellefonte, daughter of John Rankin and Isabella Dundas. He mar- 
ried his second wife, Anna Carothers, daughter of Thomas Carothers, 
of Carlisle, in 1833. His third wife, whom he married in 1863, was 
Mary Hamill, daughter of William Hamill and Dorcas Galbraith. 

One of his sons 3 Lieutenant James Armstrong, was killed at the 
battle of Fredericksburg. 

Mr. Armstrong was a man of strong character and commanded the 
notice and respect of his fellowmen wherever he was known. He 
possessed natural powers of a high order. His mind was keen and 
active and through life he was a student of men and books, of the 
word and the ways of God in the history of the church and the world. 
His conversation and his public addresses revealed a wise, strong and 
thoughtful man. He was also a man of sincere and thorough conse- 
cration to truth, the good of men, and the triumph of God's kingdom 
in the earth. His sympathies were very broad. The rights of all 
men, the overthrow of all forms of social and political evil, the spread 
of temperance, the preservation of the Sabbath, religious education, 
in brief every good and Christian movement enlisted his sympathies 
and won his co-operation. He was a man of prayer, gifted and earn- 
est, and a wise and reliable counsellor of the church, and was always 
ready for duty. That he was called twice to the eldership in this 
church and was chosen to sit in the higher courts of the church sev- 
eral times, indicates the large esteem in which he was held. He 
was noted for his dignified and courtly manners, and was beloved and 
venerated for his pure and steadfast Christian character, his un- 
swerving attachment to Jesus Christ and his stainless life. 

On Wednesday evening, December 10, 1844, the following persons 
were elected to the Eldership of this church : William McClean, 
William Root, and on January 5, 1845, they were set apart to their 
office. 

WILLIAM McCLEAN. 

Born August 4, 1778. 
Died December 23, 1846. 

William McClean, son of Moses McClean and Sarah Watkins was 
born in Franklin township, Adams county, Pennsylvania. His an- 



392 



Centennial Memorial. 



cestors were from the north of Ireland, his grandfather coming to 
this country about the middle of the last century. All the men of his 
father's family, five brothers, were surveyors by profession. Two of 
them, his father and an uncle, were employed under the authority of 
Great Britain in running the famous Mason and Dixon line. One of 
his uncles was Deputy Surveyor of York county and a man of promi- 
nence, and the father of William McClean and himself assisted him 
in his duties. 

Mr. McClean was reared in the church of Upper Marsh Creek, 
York county, which was then under the pastoral care of Rev. John 
Black, a man of high order of talent, moral courage and pulpit power. 
The father, Moses McClean was an elder in that church and was a 
man of high standing. At that very early day, in the close of the 
last century, a temperance society was organized, one of the first of 
the country, whose members were pledged to abstain themselves 
from strong drinks, and not to furnish them at harvestings, house- 
raisings, and corn-hustings, the popular gatherings of that day. It 
was a noble pioneer band to the great host of later days. 

In the midst of such moral and religious influences, Mr. McClean 
spent his youth, and as long as he lived spoke of his early pastor with 
rapture. In 1794 the family became connected with the Lower Marsh 
Creek Church,, which for forty-nine years was under the pastoral 
care of Rev. William Paxton, D. D., an ancestor of Rev. William M. 
Paxton, D. D., now of Princeton Theological Seminary. Under his 
administration Mr. McClean, while a youth, made a public confes- 
sion of Christ and became a communicant in the church. 

Mr. McClean was twice married ; first to Sarah McGinley in 1800, 
who died six years later, and second to Hanna McPherson in 1816. 
His children became persons of prominence— one, Judge Moses Mc- 
Clean, was for many years a resident of Gettysburg. Rev. Dr. O. O. 
McClean, now spending the closing years of his life, after a long and 
able ministry, in Lewistown. Pa., Dr. Alex S. McClean, of Spring- 
field, Mass., and the subject of this sketch. 

Mr. McClean removed to Gettysburg, Penna., in 1816, and about the 
year 1829 was chosen a Ruling Elder of the Presbyterian Church of 
that place. In 1839 he came to Harrisburg and served in the office 
of the Surveyor General of the State for several years, removing his 
family hither in 1841. So rapidly and completely did he win the con- 
fidence and love of the church, by the purity of his life, by his marked 
abilities and by his Christian courtesy and earnest devotion to the 
cause of religion that in little over three years after his union with 
the church as a member, he was chosen Elder by a nearly unanimous 
vote of the people, receiving one hundred and twenty votes out of one 
hundred and twenty-five. 



A Century of Elders. 



393 



He proved to be the man for the place. He was a Christian of 
spotless life, and of strong and ardent faith, amid many and severe 
trials. He met with reverses, afflictions and misfortunes, but abode 
unchanged in character. He was a man of large benevolence, giving 
out of his limited means regularly and liberally to objects of Christian 
charity. He was admirably fitted for a leader, being intelligent, 
active, fluent in speech and a prompt and wise counsellor. Above all 
these gifts he was a man of prayer and of friendship with God. His 
prayers were fervid and earnest, clothed in chaste language and from 
a heart warmed from on high and a mind familiar with the wants of 
the Church and the world. He was a good man, greatly beloved and 
respected, and his death within two years after his installation as an 
Elder filled the Church with mourning and was felt to be a great be- 
reavement. His pastor, Rev. Dr. Wm. R. DeWitt, ever spoke of him 
in terms of uncommon praise and love. He had often expressed the 
desire, if the Lord willed, to die a sudden and painless death, and 
sought to be always in readiness for it. The wish was gratified. On 
December 26, 1846, he fell suddenly dead in the market place, when 
in the sixty-ninth year of bis age. 

WILLIAM ROOT. 
Born January 10, 1798, 
Died August 25, 1848. 

William Root, son of Josiah Root, was born in Southington, Con- 
necticut, and was the one of New England descent brought into the 
Eldership of this Church. He came to Harrisburg about the year 
1834, and was engaged in the tin and iron trade until his death. He 
was a man of very large and muscular frame and of wonderful vigor 
of body, of great weight, powerful, yet active and quick in move- 
ment. His feats of strength were long remembered and rehearsed 
after his death. This peculiarity led in some degree to his sad and 
sudden exit from life. He fell when about to lift some timbers upon 
a bridge in process of erection across the Susquehanna, and death 
resulted from the injury sustained. 

In the gracious and extensive revival that occurred in the year of 
his arrival in Harrisburg he was converted and made a public con- 
fession of Christ. Mr. Root, though not a man of much intellectual 
culture, was a very earnest and active Christian, and possessed the 
entire confidence of the Church. He was modest and retiring in dis- 
position, and yet had in him the stuff of which heroes and martyrs 
are made, the spirit of almost unlimited personal sacrifice for the 
good of his fellow-men and the glory of the Redeemer whom he 



394 



Centennial Memorial. 



served. It was in fact the distinguishing- trait in the character of 
William Root. Great in body he was large in heart also. He was 
ready to do or to die, prompt in every duty, cheerful at all times, 
never morose or disheartened, and his name was promptly given a 
place in the memory of his brethren and on the honor roll of the 
Church. His term of office was but a brief two and a half years. 
The two men, Messrs. McClean and Root, were ordained at the same 
time, were alike honored and beloved in the Church and were alike 
removed by sudden and startling death in about two years after their 
induction into office. Mr. Root died at the age of fifty, leaving his 
wife and an only daughter. The latter is residing in the West, 
having married George Bushnell, of Cromwell, Connecticut. 

At the eighth election, on June 20, 1855, for Ruling Elders, the fol- 
lowing persons were chosen : Mordecai McKinney, John Andrew 
Weir, Robert Jackson Fleming. On Sabbath evening, June 24th, 
they were ordained and installed. 

MORDECAI McKINNEY. 

Born , 1796. 

Died December 17, 1867. 

Mordecai McKinney, son of Mordecai McKinney and Mary Cham- 
bers, daughter of Colonel William Chambers, was born near Carlisle, 
Pennsylvania. His parents resided on a farm and were of that 
numerous body of Scotch-Irish who were the first settlers of Cumber- 
land Valley. His early studies were pursued at Dickinson College, 
where he spent six years, graduating while quite a youth. He began 
the study of law in the office of Judge Duncan, of Carlisle, and after 
his removal to Harrisburg, completed his studies, in the office of Hon. 
Amos Ellmaker, Attorney General of the State, and was admitted to 
the bar in May, 1817. In 1821 he was appointed District Attorney of 
Union county, and October 12, 1827, Governor Shultze appointed him 
one of the associate judges of Dauphin county, Pa. He served five 
years. Subsequently Judge McKinney turned his attention to the 
compilation of lawbooks and published " McKinney 's Pennsylvania 
Tax Laws,'* and other works of value to the profession. Later still 
in life he published a volume of labor, research and worth, entitled, 
" Our Government," an explanatory statement of the system of gov- 
ernment in this country in its various departments of the State and 
the Nation. He was a man of extended and accurate knowledge in 
his profession, an honest and conscientious counsellor, but so modest 
and retiring that he shrank from the public contests of the bar. 

Mr. McKinney married Rachel Graydon, daughter of William 



A Century of Elders. 



395 



Graydon. Her death occurred at Harrisburg, April 12, 1856. Mr. 
Mckinney principally wrought his mission in the world by his Chris- 
tian life and character. His life as a man and a citizen was com- 
pletely transfused by his religion, sanctified and elevated by it. He 
was one of the most guileless of men, a man of sterling honesty and 
conscientiousness, and was remarkably free from selfishness and 
pride, spending all his years in comparative poverty, no more con- 
tented, trusting and happy man walked the streets of the city. He 
was a friend to all that was venerable and good, a defender of law, 
and a supporter of all that promised to promote the welfare of society. 

Though he could give but little he was distinguished as a philan- 
thropist, giving what is often far better than money, time and atten- 
tion and his most hearty sympathy. A true-hearted man, he 
"counted nothing foreign to him that was human," giving in genuine 
unselfishness a faithful and earnest devotion to the outcasts and 
Pariahs of society. He knew no ambition beyond the simple doing of 
right, and though so lowly and unassuming in all things else, in this 
he was as brave a man as ever faced an enemy. No notions of policy 
or of expediency ever swerved him from his course. He was the 
friend of the slave, of the poor, of the despised, and his loyalty to 
their rights and wants merited universal admiration. And touching 
as was the tribute to his worth when on the day of his burial, the 
officers of the court and members of the bar at their head, the presi- 
dent judge passed beside his coffin, taking their last and silent look 
and giving their unspoken farewell to their old friend and associate 
who died as poor in worldly goods as he was morally great, it was by 
no means so noble and so impressive a testimony to his goodness and 
worth as when the long procession of parents and children from the 
colored population of this city passed, and with the touching 
eloquence of sobs and tears told all, that they had lost their best 
earthly friend. 

It is, however, as a devout Christian that Mr. McKinney will chiefly 
and permanently live in the history of the Church. For half a cen- 
tury he was an active member of its communion, for fourteen years a 
member of its Board of Trustees, and for thirteen years a Ruling Elder. 
The Presbyterian Church was his by descent, by education, by love 
of its doctrines and order. It was a pride and a pleasure to him to 
sit, as he was permitted to do, in her various courts, the Presbytery, 
the Synod and the General Assembly. 

Judge McKinney was a great student of the Bible. His brethren 
of the bar were wont to find open on the table where lay his commen- 
taries on human law, the volume of Divine Law, and with its contents 
he was more familiar than with any work of human origin. He was 
a theologian of the Scriptures. 



396 



Centennial Memorial. 



For many years most of his active christian labors were given freely, 
and as the chief reward the pleasure of doing good, to the colored 
people of the city. He sought no public notice. He was ever at his 
post. His life was a life with God. A life of kind thoughts, pious 
deeds, charity toward men and of trust toward God. It was closed 
by a calm and quiet death of entire trust in the Great Redeemer, for 
whose speedy second coming he had longingly waited. His death 
was the result of injuries from a street car, and when he was told by 
his pastor that in a few hours he would stand amid the scenes of 
eternity, he heard the announcement with all the composure and 
calmness of one who hears of the most common event of life. The 
half a century of prayers, labors, counsels and godly living that Judge 
McKinney gave to this Church are of inestimable worth. 

JOHN ANDREW WEIR. 
Born January 10, 1802. 
Died October 10, 1881. 

John A. Weir, second son of Samuel Weir, and Mary Wallace, was 
born at Harrisburg. His father was one of the first three Elders of 
the Church, and a man of high character. The mother, who sur- 
vived her husband several years, was greatly esteemed by her sons, 
and by all as a woman of great worth. Mr. Weir received an educa- 
tion in the private schools of the borough and in the Harrisburg 
Academy. The best teaching he had, by his own testimony, came 
from his mother. He learned coach-making, but did not pursue the 
trade to any large extent in subsequent life, taking up the hardware 
business in preference and somewhat later connecting with it the 
drug business, associating with him his nephew, Daniel W. Gross. 

During the administration of Gov. Ritner, 1835-1837, he served as 
a clerk in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth. In 1840 
he was e]ected Prothonotary of Dauphin county, and held the position 
for six years. While serving in this position he became a Director 
of the Harrisburg bank, and later a teller in it, and so continued until 
1880, when the infirmities of age obliged him to retire. He was also 
from 1850 to 1880 the Treasurer of the State Lunatic Hospital at 
Harrisburg. His peculiar fitness for such duties brought him many 
trusts as administrator and executor of estates and the guardian of 
minor children. In his many and difficult responsibilities he proved 
to be eminently worthy of all confidence. 

He made a public confession of Christ in the year 1820 at the age 
of eighteen, and for sixty-one years, as a member of the church, 
maintained a Christian character that was worthy of all praise and 



A Century of Elder, 



397 



imitation. He was summoned to many duties by the Church, serving* 
it as a Trustee for sixteen years, as the Treasurer of the congrega- 
tion for a number of years, as Superintendent of the infant school 
about fifteen years, and from 1855, until his death, a period of twenty- 
six years, as an honored and beloved Ruling- Elder. For a long time, 
with his first wife, he was a member of the church choir. They were 
both excellent singers. 

He was above most men a genuine lover of children, and a model 
in all his intercourse with them. He was beloved and held in 
memory by all who were under his training. 

In the graver duties of a Ruling Elder, he was a wise and safe 
counsellor in the Session and in the higher courts of the Church. In 
private and public life his character was conspicuous for its beautiful 
consistency and uprightness. No man in the city had a more unsul- 
lied reputation for all manly Christian virtues than John Andrew 
Weir. He was a man of large and unfailing liberality. He kept 
himself informed of wants of the Church and of the world and was 
prompt to meet them to the fulness of his ability. He was a great 
and true friend of all moral reforms, steadfast and devoted to the 
temperance cause, closely connected with Bible societies from early 
manhood, one of the first and staunchest friends of the anti-slavery 
movement and of the negro in the North. He had also the courage 
of his convictions. He was one of the best and truest of friends, 
genial, cheerful and brotherly. Wherever he went he brought sun- 
shine and peace. The house was brighter after he had been there, 
faces were sunnier, hearts were lighter. He came with a benediction 
and left with a blessing. He was one of the gentlest of men. Life 
has been happier, its burdens have been easier, its crosses lighter, 
and faith in God and faith in man have grown stronger for many a 
fellow mortal because of the true and Christian friendship of John 
Andrew Weir. 

Mr. Weir was twice married, first to Catharine Wiestling, sister of 
the late George P. Wiestling, and second to Matilda M. Fahnestock, 
sister of the late Adam K. Fahnestock. Of the family of Mr. Weir 
but two survive, Misses Anna C. Weir and Sybil M. Weir, who reside 
in the family home, for many years the residence of Mr. Weir. 

ROBERT JACKSON FLEMING. 
Born November 16, 1803. 
Died December 2, 1874. 

Robert J. Fleming, the son of Samuel Fleming and Sarah Becket, 
was born in Hanover township, Washington county, Pennsylvania. 
He received an academic education, and while yet a young man, in 



398 



Centennial Memorial. 



1829, became a teacher and lecturer on English grammar, and took a 
trip to the west, lecturing on his favorite topic. His parents had re- 
moved in 1813 to Hanover, Dauphin county, Pa., whence came a 
number of the earlier families of this church. Mr. Fleming was a 
lover and also a teacher of vocal music, and was the chorister of the 
church from 1834 to 1850. In 1834 he established the coach-making 
business on a large scale in Harrisburg, and continued it with success 
until June 15, 1865, when his entire establishment was destroyed by 
fire. He built at his shop the first eight-wheel passenger car which 
ran on the Pennsylvania railroad between Columbia and Philadelphia. 
Also the first on the Williamsport and Elmira railroad, taking it up 
the canal on a flat boat. In 1861 he was appointed notary public, and 
held the office until his death, doing the business of the Harrisburg 
National Bank in this capacity. He married June 5, 1845, Sarah Ann 
Poor, of McConnnelsville, O. 

Mr. Fleming was deservedly honored by his fellowmen as an up- 
right and enterprising citizen, and a man of intelligence and high 
moral character. He united with this church on confession of his 
faith, March 31, 1842, and was ordained and installed a Ruling Elder 
June 24, 1855. 

Mr. Fleming was earnest and active in the work of the church, 
being greatly interested in the young. For many years also, with his 
wife and others, he devoted himself to Christian work among the 
colored population of the city. He was a hearty opponent of human 
slavery. Self-denying, generous, true-hearted, he wrought good and 
noble work for Christ and his cause. He died in the seventy-first 
year of his age. 

At a meeting held for the purpose on February 19, 1868, the follow- 
ing persons were elected to the office of Ruling Elder : Alfred 
Armstrong, Dr. James Fleming, William S. Shaffer, Walter F. 
Fahnestock, jr. 

The latter three were duly ordained and installed on Sabbath 
evening March 8, 1858. Mr. Armstrong being already ordained, was 
installed at the same time. 

JAMES FLEMING, M. D., D. D. S., 
Born June 25, 1810, 
Died January 30, 1875. 

James Fleming, son of Samuel Fleming and Sarah Becket, was 
l)orn in Washington county, Pennsylvania. In 1812 his parents 
removed to Hanover township, Dauphin county, Pennsylvania. He 
received a good education, being ambitious to excel in his studies. 



A Century of Elders. 



399 



Thrown upon his own resources at the early age of eighteen, he 
resolved to help himself by alternately acting as teacher and pupil. 
He pursued this course for seven years and became conversant with 
the higher mathematics, with one or more of the ancient languages 
and with French. He taught in various schools and academies 
spending some time in the States of Ohio and Kentucky. In 1838 
he graduated with honor from the Jefferson Medical College, Phila- 
delphia, and entered upon the practice of medicine in Harrisburg. 
For some years he practiced his profession, but finding the duties too 
severe for a slender constitution his attention was drawn to the 
science of dental surgery, then comparatively in its infancy. He 
went to Philadelphia and acquired a thorough knowledge of the 
science, and returning to Harrisburg he met with a deserved success 
in his new profession and prosecuted it through the rest of his life. 
He was one of the originators of the Pennsylvania Association of 
Dental Surgeons, aided in establishing the first Dental College in 
Philadelphia, it being the second of its kind incorporated in this 
country. He was a frequent contributor to both medical and dental 
journals and occasionally to the newspaper press. He was tendered 
a professorship in the Dental College at Philadelphia, but declined 
it He twice received the honorary degree of Doctor of Dental 
Surgery. He was also a director in the Harrisburg National Bank, 
and President of the Board of School Directors, showing himself to 
be a man of public spirit and ability. 

He made a profession of his faith in Christ and united with the 
Presbyterian Church March 2, 1843. He at once entered upon Chris- 
tian work and was for many years a teacher in the Sunday 
school. He was ordained an Elder in the Church March 8, 1868, and 
met his duties with fidelity until his death, eight years later. He 
was a man of pure and noble character, retiring in his ways, gentle- 
manly, obliging and courteous to all. He was a man of generous 
instincts and actions, a man of sincerest piety and of real worth. He 
married, in 1852, Jeannette Street, daughter of Col. Thaddeus Street 
and Martha Davenport Reynolds, a lineal descendent of Rev. John 
Davenport, the founder of New Haven. The widow and two children, 
Mrs. D. P. Bruner, of Philadelphia, and William R. Fleming, of New 
York survive him. 

WALTER FRANKLIN FAHNESTOCK, Jr. 
Born October 8, 1844. 
Died May 19, 1879. 

Mr. Fahnestock was the son of Walter F. Fahnestock and Louisa 
C. Heisley, and was born at Harrisburg. He united with this 



400 



Centennial Memorial. 



Church on July 2, 1865, and was active in the work of the Church 
and of the Young Men's Christian Association. He gave large 
promise of usefulness and of success and was called into the Eldership 
and ordained March 8, 1868. After a brief service of four years he 
removed to Philadelphia, severing his connection with the church. 
He died while still comparatively young at his father's house in 
Harrisburg. 

Mr. William Stowe Shaffer served the Church for twenty-one years 
with sincere devotion. Since the organization of the Olivet Church 
in 1889, he has been an active and earnest Elder in that organization. 

On April, 15, 1877, the following persons were added to the goodly 
roll of the Eldership of the Church by ordination and installation. 
They were chosen to the office on April 4 : James Franklin Purvis, 
Samuel John Milton McCarrell, Jacob Augustus Miller, Gilbert 
Martin McCauley. After serving the Church with ability and univer- 
sal acceptableness until December 26, 1882, Mr. Purvis removed to 
Kansas, where he still resides. He has been a Ruling Elder in the 
Presbyterian Church of Holton, Kansas, since a short while after 
his removal there. The remaining three are still amid the active 
duties of the office. To them were added by ordination and installa- 
tion on March 20, 1887, John Craig Harvey and John Henry Spicer. 
The complete roll of the ruling eldership contains thirty names. 
The foregoing record will show what noble and able men have 
served God and the Church in that office. 



THE CHARTER OF THE CORPORATION. 



To all whom these presents may come : know ye, that we, whose 
names are hereunto subscribed, citizens of the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania, having associated together for the purpose of worship- 
ing Almighty God, agreeably to the gospel of our Saviour, Jesus 
Christ, and desirous of acquiring the powers and immunities of a 
body politic in law according to the form of an act of the General 
Assembly of the said Commonwealth, passed the sixth day of April, 
Anno Domini, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, do hereby 
declare that we have associated ourselves together for the purpose 
aforesaid, by the name, style and title, and under the articles and 
conditions following, that is to say : 

Article I. The name, style and title shall be The English 
Presbyterian Congregation op Harrisburg. 

Article II. The subscribers and such others being citizens of the 
said Commonwealth as shall hereafter become members of the said 
congregation, and who maintain and adhere to the system of religious 
principles declared and exhibited by the General Assembly of the 
Presbyterian Church in the United States, shall become and be a 
corporation and body politic in law and fact to have countenance by 
the name, style and title of the English Presbyterian Congregation 
of Harrisburg. 

Article III. The subscribers and their successors respectively shall 
have full power and authority to make, have and use one common 
seal with such device and inscription as they shall respectively deem 
proper, and the same to break, alter and renew at their pleasure, and 
by the name, style and title by them respectively provided and de- 
clared as aforesaid, shall be capable in law to sue and be sued, plead 
and be impleaded in any court or courts before any judge or justices 
in all manner ' of suits, complaints, pleas, causes, matters and 
demands whatsoever, and all and every matter or thing therein to do 
in as full and effectual a manner as any other person or persons, 
bodies politic and corporate ^within this Commonwealth may or can 
do, and shall be authorized and empowered, and they are hereby 
respectively authorized and empowered to make rules, by-laws and 
ordinances and to do everything needful for the good government and 
support of the affairs of the said corporation ; Provided, always, The 
said by-laws, rules and ordinances, or any of them, be not repugnant 



402 



Centennial Memorial. 



to the Constitution and laws of the United States, to the Constitu- 
tion and laws of this Commonwealth, or to this instrument upon 
which the present association is founded. 

Article IV. The subscribers and their successors respectively by 
the name, style and title declared as aforesaid shall be able and capa- 
ble in law according to the terms and conditions of this instrument, 
to take, receive and hold all and all manner of lands, tenements, 
rents, annuities, franchises and hereditaments and any sum or sums 
of money and any manner or portion of goods and chattels given and 
bequeathed unto them to be employed and disposed of according to 
the objects, articles and conditions of this instrument or according to 
the articles and by-laws of this corporation or of the will and inten- 
tions of the donors : Provided always, nevertheless, That the clear 
yearly value or income of the messuages, houses, lands and tene- 
ments, rents, annuities or other hereditaments and real estate of this 
corporation, and the interest of money lent shall not exceed the sum 
of five hundred pounds. 

Article V. A board of trustees consisting of seven members (four 
of whom shall be recognized by the Church Session as being in full 
communion with the church) shall be chosen by ballot in church on 
the first Monday of January next, of which previous notice shall be 
given two weeks from the pulpit ; and until trustees shall be elected 
in virtue of this instrument, the temporal affairs of the congregation 
shall be managed as heretofore. 

Article VT. The persons capable of voting at the election of trus- 
tees and at all other elections shall be pew holders and shall possess 
at least one half a pew in the church which has been in his or her 
occupancy one year, at least, previous to the election (except that the 
five large pews occupied as aforesaid shall be entitled to four votes, 
provided so many persons occupy them as are otherwise qualified to 
vote ; Provided, nevertheless, That no one shall be permitted to vote 
at any election whose pew rent shall be six months in arrears and 
unpaid. 

Article VII. The trustees shall meet on the first Monday after 
their election (four of whom shall be a quorum) and afterwards as 
often as business shall require. They shall choose from their own 
number a President, Secretary and Treasurer. 

Article VIII. The power of the board of trustees shall extend to 
making by-laws for their own government and that of the temporal 
concerns of the church, such as providing regulations and keeping 
in repair a burial ground, providing and keeping in repair a house of 
worship, renting pews and collecting pew rents, receiving and paying 
all debts due to or by the congregation, employing, paying and dis- 



The Charter of the Corporation. 



403 



missing a sexton, fixing- and paying- the salary of a clerk, but they 
shall be chosen by the Session. The trustees shall not have power to 
alien the real estate of the congregation or to expend more than 
three hundred dollars without the consent and approbation of a ma- 
jority of the congregation. 

Article IX. Meetings of the trustees may be called at any time 
by the president, or at the request of two members. 

Article X. Congregational meetings may be called by the trustees 
or at the request of six pew holders, of which at least three days pre- 
vious notice shall be given. 

Article XI. The trustees shall lay before the congregation at 
each annual election a full account of all the transactions of the past 
year. 

Article XII. The choice and salary of a pastor shall be determined 
by a majority of the congregation entitled to vote. 

Article XIII. In case of a vacancy in the board of trustees the 
President shall call a meeting of the congregation (on one week's 
notice from the pulpit) to fill the vacancy. 

Article XIV. The trustees at the first meeting after their elec- 
tion shall divide themselves ■ into three classes, two of which shall 
consist of two members each and the third of three ; the first class 
shall continue for one year, the second for two, and the third for 
three years. An election by ballot shall be held annually on the first 
Monday of January in church to fill tbe vacancies respectively in 
rotation, of which previous notice shall be given two Sabbaths from 
the pulpit. 

Adopted October 5th, 1818. 
John Stoner, Thomas Smith, 

Joseph A. McJimsey, Geo. Bryan, 
Isaac Meguier, Root. Harris, 



William Murray, 
Robert Sloan, 
Hugh Hamilton, 
Henry McKenney, 
Warum Holbrook, 
Moses Swan, 
A. S. Dearmond, 
James Trimble, 
J. W. Bufflngton, 
James Alricks, 
John McChesney, 
James R. Boyd, 
George Whitehill, 



Sarah Mooney, 
Hester Hall, 
Richd. M. Crain, 
J. Wallace, 
Hillary B. Talbot, 
James S. Espy, 
John Neilson, 
Charles Hinckley, 
Moses Gillmor, 
Tho. Walker, 
Wm. Shannon, 
Robert Dickey, 
Mord. McKinney, 



Ira Woodworth, 
Jno. Fisher, 
Rachel Awl, 
James Emerson, 
P. C. Nabb, 
William Graydon, 
Samuel Agnew, 
James Sayers, 
Elizabeth Elder, 
A. M. Piper, 
Jno. Frazer, 
James Roberts, 
W. N. Irvine, 
John Woodward, 
William Armstrong, 
H. Antes, 



404 



Centennial Memorial. 



Samuel Sees, 
Gilbert Burnett, 
Rebecca Orth, 
Samuel Weir, 
Andrew Mitchel, 
William Allison, 
Abiathar Hopkins, 
James Peacock, 



Joseph Smullen, 
Mary Hanna, 
Thomas Whiteside, 
Frs. R. Shunk, 
Rt. McElwee, 
Rose Wright, 
J. Kearsley, 
Mary B. Potts, 

I certify that I have perused and examined the within instrument 
and association, and am of opinion that the objects, articles and con- 
ditions therein set forth and contained are lawful. 

Amos Ellmaker. 

Harrisburg, November 16, 1818. 



William Michael, 
Sarah Barr, 
Eleanor M. Wallace, 
Joshua Elder, 
John B. Thompson, 
Nancy Anthony. 
J. Montgomery. 



We, the Justices of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, do certify, 
that having- examined and perused the foregoing instrument of writ- 
ing, we concur in opinion with the Attorney General that the objects, 
articles and conditions therein set forth and contained are lawful. 
Witness our hands the 14th day of December, Anno Domini, 1818. 

William Tilghman, 
John B. Gibson, 
Thomas Duncan. 

Fee $1, charged by Judge Gibson. 



Pennsylvania, ss : 

In the Name and by the Authority of the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- 
vania. 

William Findlay, Governor of the said Commonwealth. 
To Thomas Sergeant, Esquire, Secretary of the said Commonwealth. 

Sends greeting . 

Whereas, It has been duly certified to me by Amos Ellmaker, 
Esquire, Attorney General of the said Commonwealth, and by William 
Tilghman, Esq., Chief Justice, and John B. Gibson and Thomas 
Duncan, Esquires, Associate Judges of the Supreme Courts of Penn- 
sylvania, that they have respectively perused and examined the 
annexed act or instrument for the incorporation of, "The English 
Presbyterian Congregation of Harrisburg," and that they concur in 
opinion, that the objects, articles and conditions therein set forth and 
contained are lawful : now know you, that in pursuance of an act of 
the General Assembly, passed the sixth day of April, in the year of 
our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-one, entitled, " An 
act to confer on certain associations of the citizens of this Common- 



The Charter of the Corporation. 



405 



wealth, the powers and immunities of corporation or bodies politic in 
law," I have transmitted the said act, or instrument of incorporation 
unto you, the said Thomas Sergeant, Secretary as aforesaid, hereby 
requiring you to enroll the same at the expense of the applicants, to 
the intent that, according to the objects, articles and conditions 
therein set forth and contained, the parties may become and be a 
corporation and body politic in law and in fact, to have continuance 
by the name, style and title, in the said instrument provided and de- 
clared. 

Given under my hand and the great seal of the State, at Harris- 
burg, the fourth day of January, one thousand eight hundred and 
nineteen, and of the Commonwealth the forty-third. 

By the Governor. 

Thomas Sergeant, 
Secretary. 

Secretary's Office, January 4th, 1819. 

Enrolled in charter book, No. 2, page 523, containing a record of 
acts, incorporating sundry religious, charitable and literary societies. 

Witness my hand and the lesser seal of the State at Harrisburg, 
the day and year above written. 

Thomas Sergeant, 
Secretary. 

Note IV. on page 243. 



ACTION OF THE CONGREGATION IN 1838.* 



The following proceedings took place at a congregational meeting 
of the Presbyterian Church of Harrisburg, July 2d, 1838. The 
meeting was held in consequence of a recommendation to that effect, 
made by the Session and Board of Trustees conjointly, and which had 
been read by the pastor of the church from the pulpit on Sunday, 
the first of July, 1838. The proceedings of the Session and the Board 
of Trustees embodying this recommendation, it was thought proper 
to introduce into the minutes of the congregational meeting of July 
2d, 1838, and it is believed they are nowhere else preserved. This copy 
of these proceedings is taken from a copy carefully examined, com- 
pared and attested by Charles C. Rawn, one of the secretaries of the 
meeting. 

The pastor of the English Presbyterian Church and congregation 
of Harrisburg, read from the pulpit on Sunday, the first day of July, 
1838, the following statement : 

Harrisburg, June 13th, 1838, the Session and Trustees of the 
English Presbyterian Church on invitation of the Session met in the 
lecture-room of the church for the purpose of mutual consultation in 
reference to the ecclesiastical relations of the church with which 
they are connected. President William R. DeWitt, Moderator of 
the Session ; William Graydon, John Neilson, Alexander Graydon 
and Alexander Sloan, members of the Session ; Robert Harris, 
William Allison, Gilbert Burnet, Mordecai McKinney and James R. 
Boyd, trustees. The meeting was opened with prayer. After some 
consultation Herman Alricks, Alexander Graydon and William R. 
DeWitt were appointed a commitee to take into consideration the 
subject of the ecclesiastical relations of the English Presbyterian 
Church of Harrisburg, Pa., whether any, and if any, what action in 
reference to the relations shall be recommended to the church and 
congregation. Adjourned. 

June 30th, 1838. The Session and Trustees met in the lecture-room 
of the church. Present, William R. DeWitt, William Graydon, John 
Neilson, Alexander Sloan, Alexander Graydon and J. W. Weir, 
members of the Session ; Robert Harris, William Allison, Herman 
Alricks, Gilbert Burnett, James R. Boyd, Mordecai McKinney and 



* This is taken from a document in the hand-writing of Dr. DeWitt, which is pre- 
served in the archives of the church.— Editor. 



Action of the Congregation. 



407 



John A. Weir, Trustees. The meeting" was opened with prayer. 
Rev. William R. DeWitt was appointed Moderator and J. W. Weir 
Secretary. The minutes of the last meeting were read. 

The committee to whom was referred the subject of the ecclesias- 
tical relations of the English Presbyterian Church, Harrisburg, Pa., 
and whether any, and if any, what action by the said Church should 
be recommended report : That in consequence of the Commissioners 
chosen to represent the Presbyteries of the General Assembly of the 
Presbyterian Church in the United States of America, appointed to 
meet in the Seventh Presbyterian church, Philadelphia, Thursday, 
May 17th, 1838, having separated and organized two bodies, each 
claiming to be the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 
the United States of America, and claiming the right to exercise, as 
such, ecclesiastical jurisdiction over all the subordinate judica- 
tories and churches in connection with the said General Assembly ; 
it seems important and necessary that this Church should either 
decline the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of both bodies, and all the sub- 
ordinate judicatories that adhere to them or declare to which body 
they adhere and submit to as the General Assembly. That although 
the ecclesiastical relations of the Church can. effect only the mem- 
bers in full communion with the Church, and although it has been 
the practice of Churches of Pennsylvania to submit all questions 
involving their ecclesiastical relations to her members in full com- 
munion, yet as the pew-holders may feel interested in the question, 
and as it is desirable to continue and promote by every possible 
means the harmony which has so long distinguished this congre- 
gation, it be recommended that all the members of this Church 
recognized by the Session to be in full communion together with all 
the pew-holders assemble on Monday evening, July 2d, at half-past 
seven o'clock in the church, for the purpose of deciding on their 
future ecclesiastical relations. 

In pursuance to the foregoing the said congregation assembled in 
the Presbyterian church in the borough of Harrisburg, Monday even- 
ing, July 2d, 1838, at 7:30 o'clock, and organized the meeting by 
calling Robert Harris to the chair and appointing James W. Weir 
and Charles C. Rawn Secretaries. 

On motion it was agreed that the Rev. William R. DeWitt, Pastor 
of the congregation, open the meeting with orayer, which was done. 

On motion it was agreed that the proceeding of the Church Session 
and Board of Trustees as above in part should be read. Whereupon 
the same was read with the further proceedings of the said Session 
and Board of Trustees following, to wit : 

" That when thus assembled the Pastor of the Church be desired to 



408 



Centennial Memorial. 



invoke the divine blessing- upon the deliberations and actions, and 
also to give a brief statement of the facts which render some action 
on the part of this Church necessary. That he then state that the 
Session and Trustees conjointly have had this subject under serious 
deliberations, and have concluded to propose the three following 
resolutions to be offered and acted upon by the meeting in the order 
in which they shall be read, and to recommend and urge an acqui- 
escence in whichever of the resolutions shall be adopted by a majority 
of the meeting. 

Whereas, The Commissioners chosen by the different Presby- 
teries to represent them in the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
Church in the United States of America, appointed to meet in the 
Seventh Presbyterian church, of Philadelphia, on the seventeenth 
of May, 1838, separated and constituted two bodies each claiming to 
be the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United 
States of America, and also claiming jurisdiction over the subordinate 
judicatories and Churches connected with the said General Assembly; 
wherefore, 

1. Resolved, That this church and congregation recognize and 
acknowledge as the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church 
in the United States of America the body composed of commis- 
sioners from the Presbyteries which assembled in the Seventh 
Presbyterian Church and organized by electing Rev. William Plumer, 
of Virginia, Moderator, and Elias W. Crane, Temporary Clerk, and 
which continued their sessions in said church until their final adjourn- 
ment, June, 1838. 

2. Resolved, That this church and congregation recognize and 
acknowledge as the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in 
the United States of America the body composed of commissioners 
from Presbyteries which assembled in the Seventh Presbyterian 
Church of Philadelphia May 17th, 1838, and organized by electing 
Samuel Fisher, D. D., Moderator ; Erskine Mason, D. D., Stated 
Clerk ; E. Gilbert Permanent Clerk, and John W. Blatchford, Tem- 
porary Clerk, and after that adjourned to meet in the First Presby- 
erian Church, Philadelphia, where they continued their Sessions 
until their final adjournment, June, 1838. 

8. Resolved, That the English Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg, 
Pa., decline the jurisdiction of either body, and also the jurisdiction 
of all subordinate judicatories, which are or may be organized, and 
which may claim in virtue of the former ecclesiastical relations of 
this church the right to exercise jurisdiction over it." 

The Rev. W. R. DeWitt, pastor of the congregation then proceeded 
to make a detailed statement of the proceedings of the Genera 



Action of the Congregation. 



409 



Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of 1837, referring- at large to 
the alleged causes leading thereto, to the plan of union formed in 
1801, and to such matters connected with the whole subject as were 
calculated to possess the meeting with a more perfect knowledge of 
the business and duties it had been assembled to attend. He also very 
feelingly referred to the long and affectionate relations of nineteen 
years and more that had subsisted between him and his congregation, 
during which time he had received only accumulating evidence of 
the kindest regard and esteem from them. He stated a continuation 
of the harmony and Christian fellowship, which had during all the 
time of his ministrations among them so peculiarly and unprecedently 
distinguished their intercourse as a church, congregation and people, 
was to him an object so desirable that he would sacrifice his personal 
feelings and wishes (without compromising principle) rather than 
interpose any obstacles thereto. And that should the congregation 
decide by a reasonable unanimity to acknowledge the jurisdiction of 
that body as the General Assembly which organized in Philadelphia 
on the 17th of May, 1838, by electing the Rev. William Plumer, Mod- 
erator he should most cheerfully acquiesce in such a decision and 
unanimity, though it would compel him to withdraw from their pas- 
toral charge and oversight, and tear himself from friendships and 
places consecrated by ties strong and lasting as the affections of his 
nature, as he had ever regarded the acts of the Assembly of 1837 in the 
excision of the four Synods and the proceedings which had grown out 
of them as unconstitutional, unjust, unkind, and could perceive no 
reasons for changing his opinions. He also further stated that should 
they similarly decide to acknowledge the jurisdiction of that body 
as the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, which organ- 
ized in Philadelphia on the 17th of May, 1838, by electing Samuel 
Fisher Moderator, or decline the jurisdiction of either or both of said 
bodies and all subordinate judicatories which adhered to them or 
either of them he would continue with great satisfaction to minister 
to them in the pastoral office. After Mr. DeWitt had closed his 
remarks, C. C. Rawn moved that the general rules for judicatories 
found in an appendix to a book containing the Confession of Faith of 
the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America be adopted 
so far as applicable for the regulation of the proceedings of this 
meeting. 

William McClure moved to postpone said motion, which was agreed 
to, and the said rules were not adopted. John M. Foster then moved 
the adoption of the following preamble and resolutions ': 

Whereas, This meeting of the English Presbyterian congregation 
of Harrisburg and members of the church in communion with the 
same, sincerely regret that dissension prevails in the General Assem- 



410 



Centennial Memorial. 



bly of the Presbyterian church in the United States, to such an extent 
that that once united and respected judicatory of our church has sep- 
arated itself into two distinct bodies, each claiming to be the rightful 
and legal General Assembly, and appealed to the laws of the land for 
a decision of their respective claims to that character ; and, 

Whereas, During the pending of that appeal it would be as inde- 
corous in this meeting, as it is foreign from their intention, to volun- 
teer any expression of opinion on the merits of the legal controversy ; 
but in the meantime this meeting has the right, which it may exer- 
cise without disrespect to any tribunal, legal or ecclesiastical, to indi- 
cate their future course in matters connected with that controversy, 
over which neither tribunal has any absolute or binding control ; and, 

Whereas, The congregation and church, composed of the members 
of this meeting, have now, for the long period of twenty years, had 
for their pastor one endeared to us all by many considerations, one 
whom we admire for his talents, confide in for his integrity, love for 
his virtues and revere for his piety, such a connection pleasant and 
happy as we know it to have been in times past, and which we see no 
just reason to apprehend will be less so for the future, we cannot and 
will not, on our part, voluntarily sever, as the condition on which we 
may be connected with or continue by any church judicatory what- 
ever ; therefore, 

Resolved, That we will not consent to any acknowledgment of the 
ecclesiastical jurisdiction of either party, now claiming to be the 
General Assembly of the Presbyterian church in the United States, 
nor to any connection of the church and congregation, with any Pres- 
bytery or church judicatory, which shall exact as the condition of 
such acknowledgment or connection, a dissolution of the subsisting 
relation between us and our pastor, the Rev. William R. DeWitt. 

Charles C. Rawn moved to postpone the consideration of the pre- 
amble and resolution, offered by Mr. Foster, for the purpose of intro- 
ducing the following preamble and resolution : 

Whereas, It is absolutely necessary that the government of the 
church be under some definite form ; and, 

Whereas, We hold it to be expedient and agreeable to the Scripture 
and the practice of the primitive Christians that the church be gov- 
erned by congregational, Presbyterial, Synodical and General Assem- 
blies ; therefore, 

Resolved, That we will as a church anxiously avoid any action cal- 
culated to destroy or impair the regular legitimate succession of such 
ecclesiastical tribunals : 

Resolved, That no official joint meeting of the Church Session and 
Board of Trustees as such for the church is recognized by or known 
to the Form of Government and Discipline of the Presbyterian Church: 



Action of the Congregation, 



411 



Resolved, Therefore, that this congregational meeting possesses 
no other or greater authority by virtue of the particular recommenda- 
tions causing it, than any other voluntary assemblage of the mem- 
bers of said congregation after request or notice for that purpose ; 

Resolved, That it is now unnecessary and inexpedient, if not 
wholly unauthorized by the forms of the Presbyterian Church 
government and discipline for this congregation to assume the de- 
cision of the question proposed for its consideration and action : 

Resolved, That the Session of this church is the regularly consti- 
tuted tribunal to deliberate and decide upon ecclesiastical relations, 
and that we do most cheerfully confide in the body we have so con- 
stituted for a regular decision at proper and expedient time of those 
questions now presented and all others requiring its action. 

And on this question he called for the yeas and nays. 

The chairman asked the meeting whether it was their pleasure 
that the yeas and nays should be called on the question of postpone- 
ment, which was decided in the negative. The question was then 
taken on the postponement, and it was lost without a division. 

Joseph Wallace then moved to postpone the preamble and resolu- 
tion of Mr. Forster for the purpose of considering the third resolution 
stated by the Session and Board of Trustees. On this motion the 
yeas and nays were called, but the call was subsequently withdrawn 
and the motion was lost. 

Joel Hinckley then moved to postpone the preamble and resolution 
offered by Mr. Forster for the purpose of considering the second reso- 
lution stated by the Session and Trustees, and on this question the 
yeas and nays were called. The call was subsequently recalled and 
the motion to postpone was lost. 

The question then recurring on the preamble and resolutions 
offered by William Fosser, they were carried, three or four votes 
dissenting. 

(Signed) Robert Harris, 

Chairman. 

Attest : 

(Signed) Charles C. Rawn, ) « , 
James W. Weir, \ ^ ec s - 

From this date, July 2d, 1838, to November 9th, 1840, two years, 
four months and seven days, the church and congregation continued 
independent. On the 9th of November, 1840, the church and congre- 
gation resolved to apply to be received under the watch and care of 
the Harrisburg Presbytery, Mr. Alexander Graydon, Ruling Elder, 
was appointed to make the application. It was made, and the 
church and congregation was received into the Presbytery. 



FORMS IN USE DURING A PORTION OF DR. De 
WITT'S PASTORATE. 



Note. 

The First Presbyterian Church of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, as a 
consistent member of the Presbyterian Church in the United States 
of America, adopts the Westminster Confession of Faith, the Larger 
and Shorter Catechisms, as the statement of our faith, fellowship and 
discipline, Form of Government and Book of Discipline, and to this 
the Ministers and Ruling Elders of the Church subscribe at their 
ordination. But as this Church re-affirms what our fathers at the 
adoption of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church did formally 
declare and what the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church 
has since reiterated, namely : That we are willing to receive one 
another as Christ has received us, to the glory of God, and admit to 
fellowship in sacred ordinances all such as we have grounds to 
"believe Christ will at last admit to the kingdom of heaven (see act 
preliminary to the adoption of the Westminster Confession of Faith 
— Minutes 1729, page 96) ; and, that we fully recognize the authority 
of the command, "Him that is weak in faith receive ye, but not 
to doubtful disputation ;" in its application to the reception of private 
members of the Church (see Pastoral Letter of the General Assembly 
of 1822, in Minutes of that year, page 30), we deem it proper to 
require of private members, on their public admission to our commu- 
nion an assent only to a brief summary of leading doctrines, while 
all are required to submit to the government of the Church adminis- 
tered according to the Book of Discipline, and are expected to become 
familiar with the Shorter Catechism, and as opportunity permits to 
study the Confession of Faith and Larger Catechism which we regard 
as the best uninspired summaries of Christian doctrine. 

Form of Public Admission to the Communion. 

By the proper authorities of this Church you have been examined 
as to your Christian knowledge and piety ; and on the profession of 
your faith in Christ, and promise of obedience to his commands, you 
have been received by them into its membership. You now present 
yourselves in this public manner, to confess Jesus Christ before men, 
to testify your faith in him, and your consecration to his service. We 



Forms used by Dr. DeWitt. 



413 



hope you have well considered this important transaction. It will 
live long in your remembrance, and be followed with everlasting 
consequences. The vows you this day make will be recorded in 
heaven, and meet you again on your trial at the last great day. But 
these solemn considerations need not dishearten you. In the name 
of Christ you may venture thus publicly to commit yourself to God 
in a covenant never to be revoked, and to trust to his promised 
faithfulness, for strength to fulfill your engagements. 
Attend now to the profession of your faith. 

1. You believe in one God subsisting in three persons, Father, Son, 
and Holy Ghost, the same in substance, equal in power and glory. 

2. You believe that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments 
were given by inspiration of God, and are the only infallible rule of 
faith and practice. 

3. You believe that God created man upright in his own image, in 
knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, but that left to the 
freedom of his own will, he fell from the estate in which he was 
created, by sinning against God, and by his fall brought all mankind 
into an estate of sin and misery. 

4. You believe that the Son of God, the second person in the God- 
head, assumed our nature, and in the room of sinners obeyed the law 
of God and offered up himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and 
that God is now just in justifying the ungodly who believe in Him. 

5. You believe that all who are justified have been born of the 
Spirit, and, by Him persuaded and enabled to embrace Jesus Christ 
freely offered to us in the gospel, and that all such are kept by the 
power of God through faith unto salvation. 

6. You believe there will be a resurrection of the just and unjust 
and a final judgment when the wicked shall go away into everlasting 
punishment, and the righteous into life eternal. 

All this you do believe, do you ? 
Attend now to your covenant : 

You now confess and deplore your sad apostasy from God, your want 
of original righteousness, the corruption of your whole nature, the 
unbelief which has led you so long to reject the Saviour, and the 
manifold transgressions of your lives, all which sins you condemn 
and forever renounce. In the presence of God, angels and men you 
do solemnly avouch Jehovah to be your God, the object of your 
supreme love, the Lord Jesus to be your Saviour from sin and death, 
and the Holy Spirit to be your sanctifier, comforter and guide. 

To this God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit you do now give your- 
selves in a covenant never to be revoked, to be his willing servants, 



414 



Centennial Memorial. 



to obey his commandments, and to observe his ordinances, in the 
sanctuary, in the family, and in the closet. You bind yourselves by 
covenant to thJs church, to seek our peace and edification, and to 
submit to the governmeut and discipline of Christ as here adminis- 
tered. All this in reliance on divine aid, you do severally profess 
and engage. 

(Baptism here administered to unbaptized adults.) 
(The members of the church will here arise.) 

In consequence of these professions and engagements, we, the 
officers and members of this church, do welcome you to our Commu- 
nion, to a fellowship with us in the duties and labors, in the hopes 
and joys of the gospel, and on our part engage to watch over you in 
the Lord, to pray for you, and to seek your edification, as long as you 
continue among us. 

(The members of the church will here resume their seats.) 

And now, beloved in the Lord, let it be impressed on your minds 
that you have entered into solemn relations which you never can re- 
nounce. Should you have occasion to remove from us within the 
bounds or neighborhood of another church, we shall hold it to be our 
duty to give, as it will be your duty to seek, a recommendation from 
us, which will place you under the watch and care of that portion of 
the family of Christ. For hereafter you can never withdraw from 
within the pale of the church, or live in the neglect of sealing ordi- 
nances without a breach of covenant. Rejoice with exceeding joy in 
these indissoluble bonds which connect you with Christ and his peo- 
ple. Walk worthy of your vocation ; be faithful unto death, and you 
shall receive a crown of life. 

The Lord bless you and keep you. 

The Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto 
you. 

The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. 



Form of Infant Baptism. 

Dearly beloved, you have now presented your children before God 
n his sanctuary, to devote them to his service, and to enter into cov- 
enant with him, in their behalf, that they may become interested in 
the covenant of grace, of which the water of baptism is the seal. 

Remember, therefore, that your children are involved, with the 
rest of his race, in the consequences of the fall of our first parent, that 
they are by nature the children of wrath even as others, and that they 
need the application of the blood of Christ and an inward cleansing of 



Forms used by Dr. DeWitt. 



415 



the heart through the influence of the Spirit of God, blessings, of 
which bapism by water is only the sign, which it can never impart, 
but which you are to seek of God in their behalf in the faith of that 
blessed promise, "I will be your God, and the God of your children 
after you, in their generations." 

You do now publicly renew your covenant engagement with God 
and his Church. Should your lives and the lives of your children be 
spared, you engage to teach them, or cause them to be taught, to read 
the Word of God, and to instruct them in the principles of our holy 
religion as therein revealed, to make them acquainted with that 
excellent form of doctrine contained in the Shorter Catechism adopted 
by our Church, to pray with and for your children, to set them an 
example of piety and godliness and conscientiously to endeavor, by 
all the means of God's appointment, to bring them up in the nurture 
and admonition of the Lord. 

Relying upon the all-sufficiency of divine grace to make you faith- 
ful and to crown your efforts with success, these things you solemnly 
promise, in the presence of God and His Church, to perform. 



PASTORS. 



Nathaniel Randolph. Snowden, October 2, 1793-June 25, 1805. 
James Buchanan, February 13, 1809-September 20, 1815. 
William Radcliffe DeWitt, D. D. 3 November 12, 1819-December 23, 
1867. 

Thomas Hastings Robinson, D. D., January 20, 1855-July 6, 1884. 
George Black Stewart, D. D., January 2, 1885- 



ELDERS. 



Samael Weir, February 16, 1794- August 15, 1820. 

Moses Gillmor, February 16, 1794-June 10, 1825. 

Adam Boyd, February 16, 1794- May, 1814. 

John Stoner, about 1814-March 24, 1825. 

William Graydon, about 1814-October 30, 1840. 

Samuel Agnew, M. D., April 9, 1820-March, 1835. 

Robert Sloan, April 9, 1820-December, 1833. 

Joseph A. McJimsey, April 9, 1820-September 20, 1821. 

John Neilson, September 11, 1825-1838. 

Richard T. Leech, September 11. 1825-1837. 

John C. Capp, September, 11, 1825-1831. 

James W. Weir, October 19, 1834-March 14, 1878. 

Alexander Sloan, October 19, 1834-August 2, 1890. 

Alexander Graydon, October 19, 1834-1843. 

Alfred Armstrong, December, 1840-1846. 

Samuel W. Hays, December, 1840-May 18, 1855. 

William McClean, January 5, 1845-1846. 

William Root, January 5, 1845-1847. 

John A. Weir, June 24, 1855-October 10, 1881. 

Mordecai McKinney, June 24, 1855-December 17, 1867. 

R. Jackson Fleming, June 24, 1855-December 2, 1874. 

James Fleming, D. D. S., March 8, 1868- January, 1875, 

William S. Shaffer, March 8, 1868-October 11, 1889. 

Walter F. Fahnestock, Jr., March 8, 1868-March 13, 1872. 



Deacons and Trustees. 



Alfred Armstrong, March 8, 1868-October 11, 1871. 
James P. Purvis, April 15, 1877-December 26, 1882. 
Samuel J. M. McCarrell, April 15, 1877- 
Gilbert M. McCauley, April 15, 1877- 
Jacob A. Miller, M. D., April 15, 1877- 
John Henry Spicer, March 20, 1887- 
John C. Harvey, March 20, 1887- 



DEACONS. 



John K. Tomlinson, March 20, 1887-March 24, 1889. 
Charles W. Foster, March 20, 1887- 
Peter K. Sprenkel, March 20, 1887- 
Melancthon S. Shotwell, March 20, 1887- 
Luther R. Kelker, March 20, 1887- 
Jacob J. Franck, March 20, 1887- 
Samuel C. Miller, March 20, 1887- 
David Fleming, March 24, 1889- 



TRUSTEES. 



George Whitehill, 1819-1820. 
James Trimble, 1819-1834. 
William Murray, 1819-1822. 
Andrew Mitchell, 1819-1822. 
William Allison, 1819-1830 ; 1835-1846. 
Robert Harris, 1819-1839 ; 1841-1842. 
Richard M. Crain, 1819-1821. 
Gilbert Burnet, 1821-1839. 
John Brooks, 1822-1828. 
John Berryhill, 1824-1826 ; 1840-1841. 
John Neilson, 1824-1826. 
Alexander M. Piper, 1826-1833. 
James R, Boyd, 1827-1839. 
Alexander Graydon, 1829-1834. 
William M. Carson, 1831-1833. 



418 



Centennial Memorial. 



John A. Weir, 1834-1842 ; 1847-1855. 

Mordecai McKinney, 1834-1844 ; 1852-1855. 

Samuel Capp, 1835-1835. 

James Wright, 1837-1837. 

Herman Alricks, 1838-1854. 

Henry Walters, 1840-1851. 

Samuel W. Hays, 1840-1840. 

Joel Hinckley, 1842-1842. 

William Root, 1843-1844. 

Andrew Graydon, 1843-1850. 

Francis Wyeth, 1843-1844. 

Robert J. Ross, 1845-1855. 

John H. Briggs, 1845-1872. 

Augustus Burnett, 1846-1857. 

Joseph Wallace, 1851-1857. 

William M. Kerr, 1855-1864. 

Alexander Hamilton, 1856-1857. 

Edward L. Orth, 1856-1861. 

Alexander Roberts, 1856-1868 ; 1869-1886. 

Henry Gilbert, 1858-1888. 

David Fleming, 1858-1890. 

Charles L. Bailey, 1862- 

Dr. George Bailey, 1865-1876. 

William S. Shaffer, 1863-1868. 

David McCormick, 1866-1873. 

Robert H. Moffitt, 1878- 

Augustine L. Chayne, 1878- 

M. Wilson McAlarney, 1887- 

Samuel W. Fleming, 1887- 

Spencer C. Gilbert, 1889- 

George R. Fleming, 1891- 



CHURCH CHOIR. 



George R. Fleming, Director. 
David E. Crozier, Organist. 



Soprano. 



Mrs. David Fleming, Jr., 
Miss Addie Geiger, 
Mrs. William M. Graydon, 
Miss Margaret P. Grayson, 
Mrs. Edward J. Hardy, 
Miss Maud A. Hench, 
Miss Mary Killough, 



Miss Lillian M. Kline, 
Mrs. Gilbert M. McCauley, 
Miss Sara J. Miller, 
Miss Margaret B. Mowry, 
Miss Marie A. Segelbaum, 
Mrs. J. Henry Spicer, 
Miss Elizabeth F. L. Walker. 



Miss Reba Bunton, 
Miss Sara B. Chayne, 
Miss Elizbeth Given, 
Miss Louisa Given, 



Contralto. 



Mrs. John C. Harvey, 
Miss Annie R. Kelker, 
Miss Cora L. Snyder, 
Miss Mabel E. Vaughn. 



Mr. David Fleming, 



Tenor. 

Mr. George R. Fleming, 
Mr. Peter K. Sprenkel. 



Mr. J. Roberts Given, 
Mr. Henry A. Kelker, Jr., 
Mr. Samuel C. Miller, 
Mr. Clarence Piatt, 



Bass. 



Mr. George B. Roberts, 
Mr. John B. Roberts, 
Mr. Geo. F. Sharp, 
Mr. Wm. G. Underwood, 



ROLL OF COMMUNICANTS. 



February 16th, 1894. 

[The year indicates the date of their admission to the church, and 
"P." and " C." indicate respectively that they were admitted on 
Profession or by Certificate, and the figure after the last name in each 
year shows the number now remaining- on the roll for that year.] 

1827. —Mrs. Sarah Doll, P.— 1. 

1834 —Mrs. Julia A. Briggs, P.— 1. 

1843. — Mrs. Susan Fleming, P.; Mrs. Caroline R. Haldeman, P.; 
Mrs. Malvina L. Ingram, P.; Mrs. Isabella S. Kerr, P.; Mrs. Eliza- 
beth Kerr, P.; Alexander Roberts, P.; Mrs. Mary E. Vaughn, P.; 
Mrs. Ann E. Zimmerman, P.— 8. 

1850.— Mrs. Ellen W. Stees, P.— 1. 

1853.— Mrs. Jeannette Fleming, C— 1. 

1855.— Samuel D. Ingram, P.; Miss Anna C. Weir, P.— 2. 

1857.— Mrs. Elizabeth B. Orth, P.; Mrs. Elizabeth Reily, P.— 2. 

1859.— Mrs. Margaret F. Sumner, P.— 1. 

1862.— Miss Rachel T. Briggs, P.; Mrs. Louisa C. Fahnestock, C; 
Miss Louisa C. Fahnestock, C; Mrs. Hanna M. Harvey, C; Miss Mary 
Vandling, C; Miss Elizabeth Vandling, C— 6. 

1864. — Thomas. B. McCord, P.— 1. 

1865. — Mrs. Henrietta Z. Miller, P.; Mrs. Margaret G. Parsons, C. 
—2. 

1866. — Mrs. Ellen R. Bent, P.; Miss Maria L. Boyd, P.; D. Tru- 
man Boyd, P.; Spencer C. Gilbert, P.; John C. Harvey, P.; George 
W. Parsons, P.; Miles Rock, P.; Mrs. Elizabeth M. Russell, P.; Mrs. 
Isabella T. Sheesley, P.; Miss Sibyl M. Weir, P.; Robert M. Zim- 
merman, P. — 11. 

1867. — Mrs. M. Elizabeth Cathcart, C; William M. Fahnestock, 
P.; Miss Rebecca Kline, P.: Samuel J. M. McCarrell, C; Mrs. Mary 
C. Goodman, P. — 5. 

1868. — Mrs. Anna M. Bigler, C; Miss Clara Marshbank, C— 2. 

1869. — Mrs. Laura D. Huston, P.; Miss Annie M. Marshbank, C 
Dr. Jacob A. Miller, C; Mrs. Maria M. Miller, C; Samuel C. Miller 
C— 5. 

1870. — Mrs. Sarah P. Boyd, C; Miss Margaret B. Mowry, P.— 2. 

1871. — Charles A. Fahnestock, P.; Mrs. Caroline Hickok, C— 2. 



Roll of Communicants. 



421 



1872. — Miss Lucretia H. Frowert, C; Miss Mary E. George, P.; 
Miss Julia T. Harris, C; Miss Sallie L. Harris, P.; M. Wilson 
McAlarney, P.; Mrs. Ada McAlarney, C; Mrs. Rebecca W. McCar- 
rell, C- 7. 

1873. — Mrs. Mary M. Applebaugh, P.; Miss Henrietta Guissinger, 
C; Mrs. Sarah J. McCord, P.; Dr. Henry L. Orth, C.— 4. 

1874. — Miss Sarah Beatty, C; Miss Emma P. Beatty, C.; Miss 
Isabella DeHaven, P.; Samuel W. Fleming, P.; Mrs. Agnes M. 
Hardy, P.; Mrs. Louisa H. Hickok, C; Gilbert M. McCauley, C.; 
Mrs. Sarah E. McCauley, P.; Mrs. Eliza Ogelsby, C; Miss Caroline 
Pearson, P.; Dr. Cherrick Westbrook, Jr., P. — 11. 

1875. — Mrs. Mary Ferguson, P.; Mrs. Catharine Harris, P.; Mrs. 
Kate G. Orth, C; Mrs. Mary E. Quickel, P.— 4. 

1876. — Charles L. Bailey, C; Mrs. Emma H. Bailey, C; James R. 
Banford, P.; Mrs. Rebecca Bowers, P.; Leroy J. Bowers, P.; Mrs. 
Virginia F. Brant, P.; Augustine L. Chayne, C; Mrs. Catharine 
Chayne, C; Miss Sara B. Chayne, C; Miss Sarah C. Cowden, C; 
Miss Marian E. Darr, P., Mrs. Mary E. DeHart. P.; Martin Deisroth, 
P.; Mrs. Kate Denney, P.; Mrs. Emma W. Dirosa, P.; Mrs. Helen 
Dwyer, P.; George M. Ehrisman, P.; Mrs. Mary J. K. Ewing, C; 
Frank G. Fahnestock, P.; Mrs. Mary M. Fleming, C; James Fletcher, 
P.; Mrs. Eliza A. Fortenbaugh, P.; Jacob J. Franck, P.; Joseph R. 
Henning, P.; Peter A. Hershey, P.; Mrs. Lydia E. Hershey, P.; Mrs. 
Clara V. Ingram, P.; Mrs. M. Ellen Jopp, P.; Luther R. Kelker, C; 
Mrs. Agnes K. Kelker, C; Miss Mary A. Kelker, P.; Miss Mary W. 
Kerr, P.; Harris Kerr, P.; Samuel M. Killough, P.; Miss Mary Kil- 
lough, P.; Mrs. Maggie E. Kline, P.; Mrs. H. Jennie Ludlow, C; Miss 
Sarah D. Milliken, P.; Dr. Robert H. Moffltt, P.; Mrs. Rebecca 
Moffitt, P.; Mrs. Rebecca Morrison, P.; Miss Annie M. McCord, P.; 
William McCormick, C; Mrs. Catharine E. O'Brien, P.; Joseph R. 
Orwig, C; Mrs. Jane W. Orwig, C; Mrs. Mary Oves, P.; Charles W. 
Palmer, P.; Mrs. Rebecca J. Palmer, P.; Mrs. Mary H. Pearson, P.; 
JohnE. Peters, P.; Harvey Phelps, P.; Mrs. Mary F. Phelps, P.; 
Rev. Thomas D. Reese, C; John W. Reily, P.; James Roberts, P.; 
George Roberts, P.; Alexander Roberts, Jr., P.; John F. Snow, P.; 
Mrs. Regina Steinmeier, P.; Miss Mary A. Steinmeier, P.; Mrs. 
Catharine M. Tann, P.; John H. Taylor, P.; Morris Taylor, P.; 
George W. Taylor, P.; Thomas A. Woods, C; Mrs. Mary A. Woods, 
C; George W. Young, P.; Mrs. Catharine Young, P.— 69. 

1877. — Mrs. Erne Ehrisman, P.; Joseph G. Ewing, P.; Mrs. Carrie 
M. Kerr, C; Mrs. Catharine B. Mitchell, C; Miss Mary Mitchell, C; 
Miss Jennie F. Mitchell, C; Mrs. Mary J. Quickel, C; Henry F. 
Quickel, C; Mrs. Carrie R. Shotwell, C; Charles A. Spicer, C; Mrs. 



422 



Centennial Memorial. 



Nancy W. Spicer, C; J. Henry Spicer, C; James C. Stoner, C. — 13. 

1878. — William K. Fenn, P.; Mrs. Anna Grayson, P.; Mrs. Amer- 
ica W. Sheafer, C; Miss Caroline B. Sheafer, C; Mrs. Mary E. 
Snow, P.; Sharon Stephens, C; Mrs. Catharine A. Taylor, P.; Mrs. 
Mary L. Ward, P.; Mrs. Isabella S. Wilson, P.— 9. 

1879. — Horace A. Chayne, P.; Miss Emma M. Cummings, C; 
Thomas Gosney, C; Mrs. Mary A. Gosney, C; Mrs. Margaret A. 
Woods, P.— 5. 

1880. — Henry W. Knight, C; Mrs. Angelina B. Knight, C; James 
Newby, C; Mrs. Zella P. Newby, C; Melancthon S. Shotwell, C; 
Mrs. Jane Stewart, C.--6. 

1881. — Miss Julia E. Fenn, P.; William H. Gregory, P.; Mrs. 
Catharine E. Gregory, C; Mrs. Letitia P. Johnston, C; Abram E. 
Kingport; C; Mrs. Maggie E. Kingport, C— 6. 

1882. — William E. Bailey, P.; Mrs. Sabra M. Bell, C; Mrs. Anna 
S. Bergner, C; Mrs. Hanna A. Burn, C; Miss Lizzie J. Burn, C; 
Mrs. Ellen Gibbins, P.; Mrs. Delilah Hess, P.; T. Frank Newby, C; 
James N. Ohail, P.; Charles F. Spicer, P.; Mrs. Marian E. Willetts, 
P.— 11. 

1883. — Mrs. Susan Baer, P.; Mrs. Annie L. Baker, C; Mrs. Susan- 
nah E. Bankeley, P.; George W. Boyd, P.; Mrs. Henrietta Boyd, P.; 
Miss Bessie Cathcart, P.; James W. Dougherty, P.; Miss Agnes 
Ferguson, C; David Fleming, P.: George R. Fleming, P.; Spencer 
G. Frowert, P ; Miss Alice A. Glass, P.; Mrs. Elizabeth M. Groff, P.; 
Mrs. Ella T. Heck, C; Mrs. Mary A. Herman, C; Benjamin F. Ken- 
dig, C; Mrs. Mary M. Kendig, C; Miss Elizabeth K. Kingport, P.; 
Miss Florence M. Kingport, P.; Mrs. Carrie E. Leidich, P.; Mrs. 
Elizabeth B. Lyne, P ; David Martin, C; Mrs. Elizabeth Martin, C; 
Mrs. Florence Payne, P.; Miss Bertha M. Payne, P.; Miss Sarah 
Raymond, P.; Christian Reichart, P.; Miss Ida L. Rogers, P.; 
Augustus G. Shantz, P.; Mrs. Julia H. Snyder, C; Miss Cora Lee 
Snyder, P.; Harry M. VanZandt, C; Mrs. Lizzie W. VanZandt, C; 
Mrs. Mary Lyle Weaver, P.; Mrs. Catharine B. Westbrook, C; 
Charles H. Woods, P.; Mrs. Emma Woods, P.— 37. 

1884. — Miss Annie Culp, P.; Charles W. Foster, P.; Mrs. Mary 
W. Foster, P.; Nicholas I. Hench, C; Mrs. Annie Hench, C; Henry 
S. Jenkins, C; Mrs. Sallie T. Jenkins, C; Harvey J. Miller, P.: Mrs. 
Elizabeth McCord, P.; Thomas H. Redmond, P.; Mrs. Jane Red- 
mond, P.; Frank J. Roth, C; John K. Tomlinson, C; Mrs. Lydia 
Tomlinson, C; Geary M. Willetts, P.; Miss Elizabeth M. Willetts, 
P.; William H. Windsor, P.— 17. 

1885. — James B. Bailey, P.; Miss Anna C. Bell, P.; B. Frank Bishop, 
C; Mrs. Barbara E. Bishop, C; Miss M. Elizabeth Bishop, C; Ira N. 



Roll of Communicants. 



423 



Bishop, P.; Miss Stella Bishop, P.: John R. Bockus, C; Mrs. Anna M. 
Bockus, C; Mrs. Kate Border, P.; Samuel V. Border, P.; Mrs. Esther 
Bricker, C; Mrs. Lucy S. Brown, P.; Wilson S. Cornman. P.; Mrs. 
Harriet S. Cornman, P.; George W. Deisroth, P.; Miss Elizabeth 
Dunn, P.; Miss Helen Ewing, P.; Mrs. Carrie Fahnestock, C; Miss 
Lulu Farmer, P.; Mrs. Lena Fuller, P.; 'Alexander Gibbins, P.; 
Mrs. Katie Goehringer, P.; Henry W. Gough, P.; Mrs. Jennie L. 
Gough, P.; Mrs. Catharine D. Hamilton, C; Edward A. Hartwick, P.; 
Miss Carrie Harvie, P.; Miss Maud A. Hench, P.; Miss Lillie A. 
Hench, P.; Abram M. Hess, P.; George K. Hoy, P.; Mrs. Grace 
Hoy;iMrs. .Elsie J. Kelly, P.; Mak-Yu-Chung, P.; Mak-Ling-Ching, 
P.; Miss Lizzie M. Martin, P.; Miss Clara V. Mehaney, P.; Henry G. 
Metzger, P.; Robert C. Michael, P.; Miss Silvia Millard, P.; John S. 
Miller, P.; Luther R. Moffitt, P.; George P. Montgomery, P.; Mrs. 
Barbara Myers ; P.; Miss Cornelia W. Newby, P.; Miss Margaret M. 
Orwig, P.; Miss Clara B. Orwig, P.; Mrs. Mary Ott, P.; Mrs. Lillie E. 
Palmer, P.; Miss Alva Pannebecker, P.; Jefferson Payne, P.; Jacob 
K. Probst, P.; Miss Annie E. Raymond, P.; Joseph Redmond, P.; 
George W. Reily, P.; Miss Caroline Reily. P.; Miss Alice J. Sanders, 
P.; Mrs. Mary K. Sharp, P.; Mrs. Rosanna Shive, P.; Edward 
Shuey, P.; Mrs. Annie E. Spicer, P.; William C. Spicer, P.; Peter, 
K. Sprenkel, C; Mrs. Lillie A. Sprenkel, 0.; Mrs. Mary A. Stewart, 
C; Mrs. Eva C. Stewart, P.; Miss Alice V. Taylor, P.; Miss Annie 
S. Vandling, P.; Mrs. Lucy M. Weaver, P.; Miss Sarah J. Win- 
ters, P.— 71. 

1886. — Edward Deisroth, P.; Mrs. Emeline Dickey, P.; Mrs 
Emma L. Garman, P.; Haldeman Bigler, P.; Adam Bricker, P.; 
Mrs. Annie E. Hartwick, P.; Mrs. Frances S. Jackson, C; David R. 
Junkin, P.; Mrs. Sarah J. Marsh, C; Miss Jennie A. Marsh, C; Miss 
Fannie R. Marsh, C; Miss Mima K. Marsh, C; Miss Annie M. 
McKee, P.; James O'Brien, P.; J. Ralph Orwig, P.; Miss Rosa Place, 
P.; Mrs. Carrie H. Schell, C; Miss Catharine J. Sheesley, P.; Mrs. 
Leah Shuey, P.; William R. Steinmeier, P.; Mrs. Mary Tress, P.; 
William R. Weaver, P.; Miss Anna M. Williamson, P.; Isaac Woods, 
P.; Miss Elizabeth A. Wooley, P.; Harry Zeiter, P.— 28. 

1887. — Amos M. Anderson, C; George Edwin Arnold, P., Wil- 
liam R. Bain, P.; Rush E. Banford, P.; Miss Mary Bates, P.; Edward 
M. Bierbower, P.; Mrs. Emma L. Bowers, P.; George L. Bowersox, 
P.; Harry H. Boyd, P.; George H. C. Brant, P.; Mrs. Edith K. 
Buehrer, P.; Miss Rachel A. Burn, P.; Mrs. Clarissa Carpenter, P.; 
Mrs. Mary Crutchley, P.; Mrs. Mary A. Dougherty, P.; Mrs. Mar- 
garet J. Durkees, C; Mrs. Mary E. Emerick, P.; George W. Etter, 
P.; Miss Mary Ferguson, P.; Charles E. Frowert, P.; Miss Mary E 



424 



Centennial Memorial 



Garver, P.; Miss Julia W. Geety, C; Mrs. Eliza R. Given, C; 
Miss Elizabeth Given, C; Miss Louisa Given, C; John Roberts 
Given, C; John H. Grayson, P.; Miss Margaret P. Grayson, 
P.; Mrs. Carrie L. Hale, P.; Miss Arabella Heister, P.; Mrs. 
Teressa E. Hogentogler, P.; William H. Hoke, P.; Robert W. 
Hoy, P.; William H. Huber, P.; Miss Annie R. Kelker, P.; Miss 
Ellen Kelker, P.; Mrs. Agnes A. Kirk, P.; John W. Lyne, P.; 
David H. Martin, P.; Mrs. Mary Michael, P.; John J. Moffitt, P.; 
Robert H. Moffitt, Jr., P.; Mrs. Rosanna Morgan, P.; Miss Mary E. 
McCormick, C; Mrs. Hattie F. McNeal, C; Miss Elizabeth Mc- 
Mullen, C; Miss Fannie J. Null, P.; Miss Mary G. Orwig, P.; Mts. 
Kate Peace, P.; Mrs. Lillie M. Peace, P.; William C. Pfouts, C; 
Mrs. Amy S. Pfouts, C.; Miss Carrie L. Place, P.; Mrs. Annie L. 
Rauch, P.; William H. Reindel, P.; John W. Reitzel, P.; Mrs. 
Jennie Reitzel, P.; Mrs. Maggie S. Robinson, P.; Mrs. Mary E. 
Rodenhaber, P.; Mrs. Sylvia H. Roth, P.; S. Grant Sawyer, P.; 
Jacob S. Shaffer, P.; George M. Shuey, P.; John R. Silvius, C; Mrs. 
Anna E. Silvius, C; Mrs. Sallie A. Smith, P.; Edward James Stack- 
pole, C; Mrs. Alice M. Stephens, P.; Miss Millie Stine, P.; William 
G. Underwood, P.; Jeanetta D. Vandling, P.; Conrad O. Zimmer- 
man, P. — 73. 

1888. — Charles J. Bechdolt, C; Mrs. Bertha S. Darby, P.; Mrs. 
May Daugherty, C; Miss Josephine Derr, P.; William Emerick, P.; 
F. Byron Ewing, C; Miss Ella Gouldin, C; Alfred M. Hawn, P.; 
Mrs. Alice Hawn, C; Nicholas Pall Hench, P.; Annie Weakley 
Hench, P.; Mrs. Millie Hogentogler, C; Mrs. Ivy J. Huber, P.; 
Miss Mary E. Huber, P.; J. Geiger Ingram, P.; Miss Lydia M. 
Kapp, C; Warren Z. Meek, P.; Adam H. Millard, P.; Miss Sarah J. 
Miller, C; Mrs. C. Lizzie Morris, C; Richard W. Morrow, P.; Dr. 
John B. McAlister, C; Mrs. Margaret McClure, C; Mrs. Jennie Mc- 
Cormick, P.; Ashton D. Peace, P.; Miss Annie E. Pearson, P.; 
Mrs. Rachel Powell, C; Mrs. Mary Probst, C; Filmore Scantling, 
P.; Miss Marie Antionette Segelbaum, P.; Mrs. Estelle Spicer, C; 
Mrs. Gertrude M. Wiestling, P.; Mrs. Margaret Wooley, P.— 32. 

1889. — Miss Bertha W. Burrow, P.; Miss Ella LeRue Hart, C; 
Charles W. Hart wick, P.; Mrs. Laura C. Heckendorn, P.; Mrs. Mary 
D. Horst, P.; Lewis Jenkins, P.; Mrs. Sarah Lehr, P.; J. Hall Musser, 
C; Mrs. Alice R. Musser, C; W. Henry Musser, P.; John A. 
McCord, P.; Daniel E. McGinley, P.; Mrs. Jennie McGinley, P.; 
Miss Florence Orth, P.; Miss Helen Payne, P.; Andrew Redmond, 
C; Martin Richards, C; Mrs. Julia Richards, C; Miss Catharine, 
Richards, P.; George F. Sharp, P.; Valentine H. Wiestling, P.; 
Walter H. Yingst, P.— 22. 



Roll of Communicants. 



425 



1890. — Mrs. Agnes Adams, C; Edward Bailey, P.; Mrs. Elizabeth 
R. Bailey, P.; James Baker, P.; Mrs. Isabella Beck, P.; Miss Anna 
M. Bender, P.; Mrs. Mary A. Bender P.; Joseph A. Berryhill, P.; 
Mrs. Araminta Berryhill, P.; Albert H. Buchanan, P.; Miss Marga- 
ret A. Bumbaugh, P.; Fred. B. Carnes, P.; Mrs. Margaret Cheilew, 
C; Miss Josephine A. Coldren, C; John T. Cope, P.; David E. Crozier, 
€.; Daniel E. Crutchley, P.; Miss Harriet A. Crutchly, P.; Edwin E. 
DeHart, P.; Mrs. Lulu E. DeHart, P.; Edwin Drennan, P.; William 
E. Ehrisman, P.; Mrs. Ida M. Ehrisman, C; Mrs. Laura E. Essig, P.; 
Mrs. Virginia M. E. Penn, P.; James M. Fessler, P.; Mrs. Norene K. 
Fetrow, P.; John Flickinger, P.; Miss Mary E. Fry, P.; Joseph T. A. 
Fuller, P.; Charles H.Garberich, P.; Mrs. Virginia Garberich, P.; Miss 
Bertha Gingher, P.; Miss Sadie E. Gingher, C; Mrs. Pearl E. Gray- 
don, P.; Nathaniel G. Grayson, P.; Edward L. Groff, P.; Mrs. Ada 
D. Groff, C; Miss Fannie S. Gruber, P.; Miss Mary W. Hamilton, P.; 
Harry C. Hoffman, C; Miss Pearl E. Hogentogler, P.; Miss Ivy 
J. Huber, P.; Miss Florence H. Hursh, P.; Mrs. Mabel C. Jones, C; 
Miss Alice C. Kingport, P.; Miss Lilian M. Kline, P.; Miss Lyra M. 
Leeser, C; James Hasbruck LeFever, C; Mrs. Sarah E. Leidich, P.; 
Rody R. Lyter, P.; J. Roberts Magee, C; Mrs. Sarah Magee, C; 
Mrs. A. Carrie Meek, P.; Albert J. Metzger, P.; Mrs. Mary H. 
Meyers, P.; Mrs. Laura S. Middleton, P.; Mrs. Carrie O. McCord, P.; 
William D. McNeal, C: Miss Jeannette I. Notestine, P.; Mrs. Agnes 

G. Nunemacher, P.; Miss Frances E. Pannebecker, P.; Harry Peters, 
P.; Dr. Hugh Pitcairn, C; Mrs. Annie M. Pitcairn, C; Roy C. 
Pitcairn, C; Frank R. Pitcairn, C; Mrs. M. Ellen Record, P.; J. 
Harry Reel, C; Miss M. Margaret Reel, P.; Charles P. Reel, P.; 
Lincoln M. Reigle, P.; Edwin S. Reigle, P.; Mrs. Mary H. Rice, P.; 
Mrs. Mary F. Rust, P.; William H. Shaffer, C; Mrs. Emma R. 
Shaffer, C; William S. Shaffer, Jr., C; Miss Edith B. Shaffer, C; 
Helen N. Sharp, P.: Mrs. Sarah L. Sheesley, P.; Miss M. Alice 
Small, P.; Mrs. Louisa Smith, C; James E. Sollers, P.; Miss Bessie 
W. Spicer, P.; Mrs. Kate Hummel Stackpole, C; Mrs. Ella Stees, P.; 
Jesse K. Stephens, P.; B. Edward Taylor, P.; Mrs. Mary N. Thomas, 
P.; John R. Thompson, C; Mrs. Mary J. Thompson, C; Bertha A. 
Tippett, P.; Miss Minnie R. Trout, C; William B. Wenrich, P. 
Mrs. Ida M. Wenrich, P.; George G. Young, P.; Mrs. Sarah Young, 
P.— 98. 

1891. — William H. Anderson, P.; Mrs. Mary Anderson, C. Mrs. 
Emma Bentz, P.; Miss Caroline H. Bigler, P.; Mrs. Catharine 
Black, C; Miss Anna M. Bowman, P.; Charles P. Boyd, P.; Lewis 

H. Carpenter C; Mrs. Maggie S. Carpenter, C; Richard Cheilew, P.; 
Mrs. Clara Cowan, C; Frank Deihl, P.; Mrs. Mary Deihl, C; Miss 



426 



Centennial Memorial. 



Alice V. Drawbaugh, P.; Miss Bessie R. Ehrisman, P.; Mrs. Emma 
H. Eisenberger, P.; Miss A. Laura Eisenberger, P.; John L. Essig, 
P.; Mrs. Eliza R. Fleming, C; Elcinda M. Geiger, P.; Mrs. Emma 
W. Hepperle, P.; Harry G. Hogentogler, P.; Miss T. Edith Hogen- 
togler, P.; Miss Janet M. Horst, P.; Mrs. Martha M. Junkin, C.; 
Miss Clara Knipple, P.; Miss Anna Lantz, C.; Miss Lizzie A. Lindsey, 
P.; Mrs. Melinda Leeds, P.; William W. Lynch, P.; Miss Mary E. 
Lynch, C.; George C. Martin, P.; Howard P. Martin, C; Mrs. 
Lillian C. Martin, C.; Mrs. Nellie R. Millard, P.; Samuel W. Miller, 
P.; Mrs. Emma Miller, P.: Miss Caroline R. Moffitt, P.; George R. 
Moffitt, P.; Mrs. Ellen M. McCormick, P.; Mrs. Nancy McCoy, C; 
Edwin S. McCoy, P.; Miss Mary E. McGinley, P.; Miss Ida Note- 
stine, C; Miss Maud A. Peace, P.; Mrs. Annie E. Phillips, C; Miss 
May O. Phillips, C; Miss Fannie E. Phillips, C; Mrs. Anna M. 
Reese, P.; Mrs. Lena Reichart, C; Miss Minnie M. Rineer, C; Miss 
Susie O. Rose P.: Mrs. Ida M. Schmidt, P.: William H. Sharp, P.; 
Harry F. Sheesley, P.; Miss Catharine Shuey, P.; Mrs. Frances E. 
Simmers, P.; Miss Marcie A. Snodgrass, P.; H. Clement Sweatman, 
C; Mrs. Louella Sweatman, C; M. Harvey Taylor, P.; Miss Maud 
Tippett, C; Mrs. Emma H. Underwood, P.; Miss Roberta Vaughn, 
P.; Miss Mabel E. Vaughn, P.; Mrs. M. Virginia Weiss, C: Miss 
Mary J. Wooley, P.; Mrs. Annie P. Young. C— 68. 

1892.— Miss Clara M. Anderson, P.; Mrs. Anna T. Beachler, C; 
Miss Mary C. Bidaman, P.; John Black, P.; Miss Mary J. Boyd, P.; 
Mrs. Harriet N. Crozier, C; Thomas J. Crutchley, P.; Mrs. Gertrude 
S. Dunkin, C; Mrs. Mary A. Hefflefinger, C; Miss Harriet S. Gilbert, 
P.; Miss Louisa A. Hickok, P.; Edward O. Hogentogler, P.; William 
Hunter, C; Miss Catharine Jacobs, P.; Mrs. Ella I. Johnson, P.; 
Miss Eva R. Johnston, P.; Rudolph F. Kelker, jr., P.; James C. 
Leidy, C; Mrs. Annie W. Leidy, C; Mrs. Sarah Leib, C; Miss 
i>ma E. Leib.; C; Miss Anna Magee, P.; Miss Mary E. Mehaffie, 
P.; Miss Annie E. Miller, P.; Oliver B. Montgomery, P.; Miss Edith 
Montgomery, P.; William H. Myers, P.; Miss Martha W. McAlarney, 
P.; Mrs. Sarah A. McCann, P.; Miss Annie V. McCord, P.; Harris 
B. McCormick, P.; Mrs. Lizzie McCroskey, P.; Mrs. Helen B. 
Newby, C; Miss Susie Nichols, P.; Frederick J. Pearson, P.; Miss Ida 
M. Pearson, C; Mrs. Annie M. Peters, C; Miss Lizzie J. Redmond, 
P.; Miss Edith K. Reel, P.; Miss Ada M. Richards, P.; Mrs. Sarah 
Roberts, P.; M>s. Eliza E. Roberts, P.; Miss Elizabeth L. Robinson, 
P.; Miss Martha K. Ross, C; A. Fisher Russell, C; Henry K. Samp- 
selle, C; Mrs. Eliza Sampselle, C; Mrs. Louisa Seasholtz, C; Mrs. 
Lizzie Shearer, C; Miss Bertha Small, P.; Mrs. Agnes Smith, C; 
Miss Phoebe Emma Smith, P.; Stanley G. Smith, P.; Mrs. Emma S. 



Roll of Communicants. 



427 



Taylor, P.; Miss Bertha M. Unger, P.; John W. Urban, P.; Mrs. 
Sarah Urban, P.; Miss Elizabeth F. L. Walker, P.; Warren H. 
Wasson, C; Mrs. Alice B. Wasson, C; Miss Mary Wheeler, P.; 
Wallace Willis, P.; Mrs. Hannah R. Wilt, C; Miss Jennie Woods, 
C; Miss Cora M. Young-, P.— 65. 

1893. — Miss Elizabeth S. Baker, P.; Dr. Thomas S. Blair, C; Miles 
Brown, P.; William J. Clark, C; Edwin C. Conrad, P.; Miss Bessie 
L. Eckenroth, P.; Alonso H. Eby, P.; Mrs. Mary M. Franck, C; 
Miss Margaret P. Hamilton, P.; Henry C. Heilman, C; William 
Orville Hickok, P.; Ross A. Hickok, P.; Charles N. Hickok, P.; 
William O. Hickok, IV., P.; Mrs. Carrie L. Ingle, C; John P. Kelker, 
P.; Miss Edith Kelker, P.; Miss Josephine B. Knight, P.; John J. L. 
Kuhn, P.; Mrs. Mary G. Kuhn, P.; Miss Wilma Z. Leffingwell, C; 
Mrs. Kate Lewis, P.; Miss Mary Z. Miller, P.; John H. McAlarney, 
P.; Elizabeth C. McCoy, P.; Miss Bertha M. Myers, P.; Mrs. Catha- 
rine J. O'Brien, P.; Miss Nancy C. Orr, P.; Miss Anna Shipley Dixon 
Orth, P.; Miss Roberta Elizabeth Orth, P.; Miss Frances Annie 
Payne, P.; Miss A. Elizabeth Pearson, P.; Norman B. Pitcairn, P.; 
Miss Mary Myrteth Ramsay, P.; Miss Elizabeth S. Reel, P.; Miss 
Mary E. Reily, P.; John B. Roberts, C; Mrs. Mary Roberts, C; 
William P. Schell, P.; Orville H. Schell, P.; Miss Louisa W. Sears, 
P.; Miss Bertha M. Shertzer, P.; Mrs. Elizabeth Shuler, P.; Miss 
Edna M. Sprenkel, P.; Miss Anna B. Stewart, P.; Miss Helen 
Stewart, P.; Miss Martha Carrie Weiss, C; John Fox Weiss, C; 
Mrs. Mary A. Wentz, P.; Robert W. Woods, P.; John E. Woolley, 
P.— 51. 

1894. — Samuel F. Compton, C; Mrs. Ella G. Compton, C; Mrs. 
Lottie Conrad, C; Miss Emma M. Cummings, P.; Alexander S. 
Koser, C; Mrs. Ella L. Koser, C; George W. McCurdy, P.; Mrs. 
Emma J. Tress, P.; William C. Young, P.— 9. 

Total Communicants, February 16th, 1894, 768. 



OFFICERS. 



February 16, 1894. 
Pastor. 

George B. Stewart, 127 State Street. 

Pastor's Assistant. 
David M. Skilling, Y. M. C. A. Building. 

Elders. 

Samuel J. M. McCarrell, 1877. Dr. Jacob A. Miller, 1887. 
Gilbert M. McCauley, 1877. J. Henry Spicer, 1887. 
John C. Harvey, 1877. 

Clerk of Session— Jacob A. Miller, M. D. 

Deacons. 

Term Expires 1894. 

Peter K. Sprenkel. 
Cha.s. W. Foster, Secretary. Melancthon S. Shotwell. 

Term Expires 1895. 

Luther R. Kelker, Treasurer. David Fleming. 

Term Expires i8g6. 

Jacob J. Franck, Moderator. Samuel C. Miller. 

Trustees. 

Term Expires 1895. 

Augustine L. Chayne. Spencer C. Gilbert. 

Term Expires 1896. 

M. Wilson McAlarney, Samuel W. Fleming, Secretary. 

Term Expires 1897. 

Chas. L. Bailey, President. Robert H. Mopfitt. 

Geo. R. Fleming. 

Treasurer. 
Samuel W. Fleming, 32 North Third Street. 

Organist. 
David E. Crozier. 
Sexton— Charles A. Davis, 1629 Logan Avenue. 



MEMBERS RECEIVED. 



Prior to 1 81 Q 


331 


1845, 


A 

. . O 


1 871 


10 


1819, 


46 


1846, 


u 


1879 


91 


1820, 


20 


1847 


... 10 


1 873 


94. 


1821, 


23 


1848 


5 


1874 


SO 




q 


184Q 


Q 

... O 


1 875 


Qfi 


1823, 


12 


1850, 


... 27 


1 876 


80 


1824, 


26 


1851 


7 


1877 


• oo 


1825, 


4 


1852, 


... 10 


1878 


9fi 


1826, 


8 


1853, 


3 


1879 


22 


1827, 


34 


1854, 


5 


1880, . . . 


... 19 


1828, 


11 


1855, 


60 


1881, . . . 


... 15 


1829, 


12 


1856, 


... 12 


1882, . . . 


... 25 


1830, 




lou i , ... 


90 


1883, . . . 


... 69 


1831, 


7 


1858, . . . 


... 22 


1884, . . . 


... 32 


1832, 


. 27 


1859, . . . 


. . 18 


1885, . . . 


... 97 


1833, 


. 5 


1860, . . . 


... 17 


1886, . . . 


... 40 


1834, 


. 50 


1861, . . . 


... 9 


1887, . . . 


... 97 


1835, 


. 8 


1862, . . . 


... 15 


1888, . . . 


... 49 


1836, 


. 11 


1863, . . . 


... 4 


1889, . . . 


... 31 


1837, 


. 2 


1864, . . . 


... 7 


1890, . . . 


... 113 


1838, 


. 7 


1865, . . . 


... 18 




... 76 


1839, . . 


. 10 


1866, . . . 


... 39 


1892, . . . 


... 70 


1840, 


. 7 


1867, . . . 


... 21 


1893, . . . 


... 54 


1841, . . . . . 


. 10 


1868, . . . 


... 12 


1894, to Feb. 16th, 11 


1842, 


. 27 


1869, . . . 


... 41 






1843, 


. 134 


1870, . . . 


... 11 


Total, . 


. . . 2,462 


1844, 


. 10 











THE PRESBYTERIAN COLORS. 



Perhaps there are very few who call themselves "Blue Presby- 
terians " — who really know why that color is given to them. " 'Twas 
Presbyterian true blue," is found in Hudibras 1, 1. The allusion is to 
the blue apron which some of the Presbyterian preachers used to 
throw over their small, high pulpit — their "preaching tub," as it was 
called — before they began to address the people. 

The term, "blue stocking," is quite misapplied to Presbyterians, as 
that has nothing to do with the church, but was applied to a social 
club formed in Venice in the year 1400 — distinguished by the color of 
their stockings. This club appeared afterwards in Paris, and later 
in England, and finally disappeared entirely in 1840. 

When Presbyterians say they are " true blue " — " dyed in the wool," 
they refer to a blue cloth and thread made at Coventry, noted for its 
permanent dye — and blue or azure is the symbol of divine eternity. 

The old Covenanters wore blue as their badge in opposition to the 
scarlet of the royalty. They based their choice on Numbers xv. 38, 
"Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them make fringes in the 
borders of their garments, and that they put upon the fringe of the 
borders a ribbon of blue." 

In one of the Rump songs we read of a person going to hear a lec- 
ture, and the song says : 

Where I a tub did view, 

Hung with an apron blue ; 

'Twas the preachers, I conjecture. 



REV. JOHN ROAN'S SCHOOL. 



The Rev. John Roan had a Theological school in the neighborhood 
of Derry, at the which were instructed the Rev. Samuel Eusebius 
McCorkle, Rev. Joseph Montgomery, a member of the Continental 
Congress, and Rev. William Graham, founder of Washington and Lee 
University, Virginia, than whom none are more celebrated in the 
annals of the Presbyterian Church in America. - Editor. 



INDEX. 



Agnew, Samuel, Sketch of, 379. 

Angell, Rev. Thomas B., Account of musical festival by, 107-111. 
Armstrong, Alfred, Sketch of, 390. 

Armstrong-, Rev. Reuben H., offers invocation, 86 ; Reads the Script- 
ure, 125. 

Beck, Rev. Benjamin F., Offers prayer, 125. 
Boyd, Adam, Sketch of, 375. 

Brown, Cassius M., Sketch of Elder Street Presbyterian Church by, 
159-167. 

Buchanan, Rev. James, called to pastorate, 218 ; Reminiscences by 

his son of, 310-313 ; Sketch of, 219, 357-359. 
Capp, John C , Sketch of, 384. 

Cattell, Rev. William C, Speaks at social reception, 279-285. 

Centennial celebration. Inception of, 1 ; General plan and aim of, 5-7 ; 
Weather during-, 7, 8 : Success of, 9 ; Programme of, 18-26 ; Pur- 
pose of, 34. 

Centennial choir, Names of, 17. 

Centennial Committee chosen, 2, 3 ; First meeting of, 4 : Last meet- 
ing of, 9, 10. 
Centennial sub-committees, Names of, 15-16. 

Chambers, Rev. George S., Presides at union communion service, 
85-92 ; Address of, at communion service, 87-91 ; Distributes the 
bread at communion service, 91 ; Pronounces benediction, 92 ; 
Assists in service on historical evening, 189. 

Charter of English Presbyterian Congregation, 401-405. 

Choir, Names of Centennial, 17. 

Choir, Leaders of, 97, 98, 99, 116; Families long connected with, 114, 

116, 117 ; Names of, 419. 
Civil War, Reminiscences of, 252-256. 283, 297. 
Communicants, Roll of, 420-427. 

Covenant Presbyterian Church, Historical sketch of, 167-175. 
Deacons, List of, 417. 
Decorations, Description of, 11-14. 

DeWitt, Rev. John, Invited to participate, 6; Introduced, 35; Ad- 
dress of, 37-62 ; Pronounces the benediction, 62. 
DeWitt, Mrs. Mary E., Sketch of, 367, 368. 

DeWitt, Rev. W. R., Reminiscences of, 103, 113, 281, 298; And the 



432 



Centennial Memorial. 



first choir, 112; Called to pastorate, 235; Revivals during his 

ministry, 240 ; Sketch of, 360-367. 
Duncan, Rev. George S., Offers prayer, 91 ; Sketch of Westminister 

Presbyterian Church by, 176-180. 
Elder, Rev. John, Description of, 197-199. 

Elders, Participating in communion service, 21, note ; 85 : Elected 
during Dr. DeWitt's pastorate, 238 ; Elected during Dr. Robin- 
son's ministry, 266 ; Sketches of, 373-400 ; List of, 416. 

Elder Street Presbyterian Church, Historical sketch of, 159-167. 

English Presbyterian Congregation, The Mother Church, 5 ; Charac- 
ter of its original elements, 41, 196 ; One of the second generation 
of Presbyterian churches, 44 ; Address on present condition of, 
132-148 ; Present membership, 133, 134, 420 ; Organizations now 
within, 134-139; Calvary chapel, 140, 141; Official boards of , 141- 
143 ; Services and meetings of, 143-145 ; Spiritual condition of, 
145, 146 ; Greetings of, to the other Presbyterian churches, 146- 
148 ; First steps toward organization of. 201-205 ; Organized, 206 ; 
First house of worship, 212-216 ; Charter granted to, 238 ; Elders 
elected during Dr. DeWitt's pastorate, 238 ; Erection of second 
house of worship, 239 ; Burning of second church edifice, 240, 248; 
Unites with the New School church, 241 ; Action of, at time of 
the division of the Presbyterian church, 243, 406-411 ; Interest of, 
in Foreign Missions, 246 ; Size of, at time of Dr. Robinson's com- 
ing, 246 ; Places for services, while third edifice was building, 
248 ; Dedication of third house of worship, 248, 249 ; Growth of, 
in the last forty years, 251, 252; During the Civil War, 252-256 ; 
Meeting of the New School Assembly of 1868 with, 256 ; Growth 
during the last nine years, 268,269 ; Organization of, not favored 
by Paxtang congregation, 301,302; Characteristics of, 341-350; 
Charter of, 401-405 ; Some forms of service of, 412-415 ; List of 
pastors of, 416 ; List of Elders of, 416 ; List of Deacons of, 417 *, 
List of Trustees of, 417 ; Present choir of, 419 ; Roll of communi- 
cants of, 420-427 ; Present officers of, 428 ; Members received, 429. 

Fahnestock, W. F., Jr., Sketch of, 399. 

Fleming, James, Sketch of, 398. 

Fleming, R. Jackson, Sketch of, 397. 

Fraser, Rev. James, Reads the Scripture, 93. 

Garland, Samuel H., Sketch of Covenant Presbyterian Church by, 
167-175. 

Gillmor, Moses, Sketch of, 374. 
Graydon. Alexander, Sketch of, 385. 

Graydon, H. Murray, Address of, at Musical Festival, 97-105. 
Graydon, William, Sketch of, 377. 



Index. 



433 



"Great Evangelical Revival," Influence of, 59-61. 

Greig, Rev. Charles Edward, Pronounces benediction, 105. 

Harrisburg, Description of, 39-41, 195 ; Social Life of, 41-43 ; First 

Sermon in, 200. 
Hayes, Rev. I. Potter, Offers prayer, 189. 
Hays, Samuel W., Sketch of, 389. 
Historical Exhibit, Description of, 13, 14. 
Incorporators, Names of, 403. 
Leech, Richard T., Sketch of, 382. 
Lottery, The, 212-214. 

Market Square Presbyterian Church, vide, "English Presbyterian 

Church." 
McClean, William, Sketch of, 391. 
McJimsey, Joseph A., Sketch of, 381. 
McKeehan, Rev. John L., Reads the Scripture, 190. 
McKinney, Mordecai, Sketch of, 394. 

McPherson, Hon. John B., Presides at social reception, 278 ; Intro- 
duces speakers at social reception, 278, 285, 290, 295, 299. 

Music and hymn books used at different periods, 101-104, 120-123. 

Musical instruments used in church at different periods, 98-100, 117- 
120. 

Musical programme at social reception, 277. 

Niles, Rev. Henry E., Speaks at social reception, 295-299. 

Officers, Joint meeting of, 2, 3, 4 ; List of, 428. 

Olivet Presbyterian Church, Historical sketch of, 180-187. 

Organists, Names of, 117, 119. 

Organ recitals, Programme of, 27, 28. 

Pastors, List of, 416. 

Patterson, Rev. William P., Offers invocation, 64; Offers prayer, 85, 

91 ; Sketch of Olivet Presbyterian Church, by, 180-187. 
" Paxtang Boys," Defence of, 57, 58. 

Paxtang Presbyterian Church, Historical sketch of, 127-131. 
Pine Street Presbyterian Church, Historical sketch of, 148-158 ; Or- 
ganization of, 249, 250. 
Pipe organ, Account of first recital on, 118. 
Places of worship, Different, 208, 209. 
Prayer-meeting, Institution of, 237. 

Presbyterian Church, Division of, in 1837, 241-243 ; Action of the con- 
gregation at the time of the division of, 243, 406-411. 
Presbyterianism, Growth of, in Harrisburg, 250-251. 
Programme of Centennial Celebration, 18-26 ; Changes in, 8. 
Protestantism, Early divisions of, 44-46 

Reception committee has charge of the social reception, 275, 276. 



434 



Centennial Memorial. 



Revival in 1875-6, Account of, 259-264 ; Permanent results of, 262-264. 

Revivals during" Dr. De Witt's ministry, 240. 

Reunion of Old and New School Churches, 256, 257. 

Robinson, Rev. Thomas H., Chosen historian, 1; Offers prayer 62; 
addresses Sunday School anniversary, 76, 77 ; Participates in 
Musical Festival, 105 ; Introduction of, to audience on Historical 
evening, 190, 191 ; Historical address of, 192-272 ; Called, 245 ; 
some biographical notes of, 246 ; Resignation of, 267 ; Pronounces 
the benediction, 273 , Preaches the first sermon in the second 
century, 319 ; Sketch of, 368-372. 

Root, William, Sketch of, 393. 

Rutherford, W. Franklin, Speaks at social reception, 300-303. 
Schenck, Rev. Harris R., Offers prayer, 93. 

Scotch-Irish, Origin of, 47 ; And German elements in Harrisburg, 
41-43. 

Scotch-Irish churches in the colonies and civil power, 51, 52. 
Scotch-Irish in America, Early congregations of, 53 ; Early parochial 

schools of, 54 ; Early colleges of, 55, 56 ; Early life of, 56, 57. 
Scotch-Irish in Pennsylvania and the Friends, 52-53. 
Scotch-Irish migrations to America, 48-51. 

Seiler, Professor Jacob F., Sketch of Pine Street Presbyterian 
Church by, 148-158. 

Skilling, Rev. David M., Offers invocation, 34; Pronounces bene- 
diction, 84 ; Reads the Scripture, 86 ; Presides at Musical Festival, 
93 ; Introduction of Mr. Graydon by, 95, 96 ; Becomes pastor's 
assistant, 269 ; Leads in prayer, 273. 

Sloan, Alexander. Sketch of, 388. 

Sloan, Robert, Sketch of. 378. 

Snowden, Gen. Geo. R., Speaks at social reception, 286-289. 

Snowden, Rev. N. R., Called to Harrisburg, 205 ; Reminiscences of, 
by Col. Thompson, 294; Sketch of, 207, 355-357. 

Social Reception, Impromptu musical programme at, 277. 

Sterry, Geo. E., Address of, at S. S. anniversary, 67-70. 

Stewart, Geo. B., Chosen Chairman, 2 ; Formally announces celebra- 
tion, 4 ; Gives account of the preparations, 34 ; Introduces Dr. 
DeWitt, 35 ; Gives an address at S. S. anniversary, 80 : Distri- 
butes the wine at Communion service, 91 ; Incident on his arrival 
in Harrisburg, 119 ; Gives an address, 132-148 ; Presides on His- 
torical evening, 189 ; Introduces Dr. Robinson, 190 ; Called to the 
pastorate of the church, 268 ; Introduces Judge McPherson, 277 ; 
Preaches second sermon in second century, 336-350. 

Stoner, John, Sketch of, 376. 

Sub-Committees, Names of, 15, 16. 



Index, 435 

Sunday School, Report of Primary Department, 64 ; Exercises by 
Primary Department, 65, 66; Report of Intermediate Depart- 
ment, 70 ; Exercises by Intermediate Department, 71-75 ; Report 
of Senior Department, 77, 78 ; Report of Chinese Department, 
79 ; Report of Calvary Chapel, 79 ; Summary of annual reports, 
79, 80 ; Origin of, 222-225 ; Successive Superintendents of, 225, 228, 
229, 230 ; Historical sketch of, 221-234. 

Thompson, Col. J. Ross, Speaks at social reception, 290-295. 

Treasurers' Accounts, Early, 209, 210. 

Trustees, List of, 417. 

Wallace, Dr. Benj., Description of Harrisburg by, 39-41. 

Weir, J. W., References to, by Dr. J. DeWitt, 41; S. S. prize fund 

established by, 83 ; Dr. Robinson's tribute to, 230-232 ; Incident of 

his last blackboard lesson, 232 ; Sketch of, 386. 
Weir, John A., Sketch of, 396. 
Weir, Samuel, Sketch of, 373. 

West, Rev. William A., Presides on Wednesday evening, 125 ; Intro- 
duces representatives of the Presbyterian churches, 126, 131, 148, 
159, 167, 175, 180 ; Leads in prayer, 187 ; Pronounces the benedic- 
tion, 187. 

Westminster Presbyterian Church, Historical sketch of, 176-180. 
Williamson, Rev. Albert B., Participates in communion service, 86 ; 

Sketch of Paxtang Presbyterian Church by, 127-131. 
Woman's Friday prayer-meeting, Incident in connection with, 135 ; 

origin of, 220. 
Y. M. C. A., Organization of, in Harrisburg, 248. 



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